Protecting EU Values and Fundamental Rights through Public Participation and Civil Society Assistance in Central Europe
The growing social polarization and political illiberalism in the EU, but especially in the Central European Member States, pose great risks to civil society, which are increasingly evident through tighter controls on CSOs, cuts to their financial independence, intimidation of civic activists, and the portrayal of civil society as a public enemy. All this puts at risk a strong and dynamic civil society which is a fundamental requirement for a liberal and pluralistic democracy.
The PROTEUS project aims to protect, promote, and raise awareness to European values and fundamental rights and the fundamental rights of EU citizens as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Covering eight Central European countries- Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia- the project will provide targeted grants and tailor-made capacity-building to local CSOs and increase their fundraising, management, and advocacy capacities with a strong focus on civic actors in peripheral and rural areas.
As PDCS our focus is on strengthening the resilience of CSOs operating under the conditions of shrinking spaces and supporting civic activism in peripheral areas.
How does it work in practice?
We expect the following outputs for our work in Slovakia:
- Enhanced organizational management and fundraising skills for 20 CSO representatives and their organizations from peripheral regions.
- Enhanced public outreach and advocacy skills for 20 CSO representatives and their organizations from peripheral regions.
- Strengthened understanding of EU fundamental rights and values among 20 CSO representatives and their organizations from peripheral regions.
- Expanded local civil society infrastructure and expertise to advance civic activism and European values in peripheral regions.
- We will also support small, local civic initiatives in peripheral areas with small grants.
Main project coordinator: Transatlantic Foundation
The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Call for Proposals
Strengthening Watchdogs’ Strategic Litigation Capabilities
In spite of the attempts of populists and illiberal leaders to undermine the independence of judiciary, domestic and international courts often provide the most effective fora to contest discriminatory laws, challenge the dismantling of checks and balances, enforce freedom of information, and resist authoritarian legal engineering. Strategic litigation is a key asset in the toolkit of human rights and anti-corruption watchdogs to pursue the protection of fundamental rights, transparency, and liberal constitutionalism with legal means.
For this reason, The Transatlantic Foundation (TF), in cooperation with the Engaging Central Europe (ECE) program of The German Marshall Fund of the United States, is launching a dedicated call for proposals. This funding opportunity aims to strengthen civil society watchdogs’ strategic litigation capabilities in Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
