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.
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Posilnenie účasti žien v rozhodovacích procesoch verejného života prostredníctvom zvyšovania povedomia a občianskej advokácie | German Marshall Fund of the United States (gmfus.org)
Posilnenie účasti zraniteľných skupín v rozhodovacích procesoch verejného života prostredníctvom zvyšovania povedomia a občianskej advokácie | German Marshall Fund of the United States (gmfus.org)
Podpora participácie detí a mladých ľudí na občianskom živote prostredníctvom vzdelávania a participatívnych nástrojov | German Marshall Fund of the United States (gmfus.org)
