KMOP – Social Action and Innovation Centre convened a virtual policy briefing in Greece on 22 October 2025, bringing together 23 institutional stakeholders, civil society organisations (CSOs), and policymakers in a structured multi-stakeholder dialogue on the state of civic space.
The consultation highlighted several interrelated structural challenges affecting civic actors. Participants identified the criminalisation of solidarity as a key concern, particularly for organisations and individuals working in migration and asylum. They stressed that this phenomenon extends beyond formal prosecution and also includes administrative barriers, public discrediting, and other forms of pressure that collectively restrict civic engagement.
The discussion also revealed a persistent gap between existing legal frameworks and their implementation in practice. While formal safeguards for participation and fundamental rights exist, participants pointed to ongoing inconsistencies in access to justice, consultation mechanisms, and enforcement. They noted that these challenges cut across sectors, including environmental governance and human rights advocacy.
Another key issue concerned public trust in civil society. Despite some positive trends, stakeholders reported continued challenges related to public perception and legitimacy, which affect the ability of CSOs to engage effectively with communities and policymakers. Participants highlighted transparency, visibility, and stronger community engagement as essential factors for rebuilding trust.
The role of policymakers emerged as a central enabling factor throughout the discussion. Participants called for stronger institutional support, improved implementation of existing frameworks, and more structured and continuous dialogue between civil society and public authorities. They also emphasised the importance of participatory processes and the uptake of evidence-based policy recommendations.
The policy briefing resulted in a set of actionable recommendations, including strengthening legal protections for civic actors, improving administrative procedures such as NGO registration processes, enhancing the implementation of participatory rights, and promoting cross-sector collaboration at national and EU level.
Overall, the briefing helped identify priority areas for action and reinforced the importance of sustained engagement between civil society and policymakers. Its findings provide a solid foundation for further policy dialogue, capacity building, and coordinated action within and beyond the project framework.
These activities were implemented in the framework of the European project Civic Champions, which aims to strengthen civic space in Europe through monitoring tools, stakeholder engagement, and evidence-based policy dialogue.
For further information, contact KMOP at [email protected]