Defending Democracy
About
At a time when we witness a Trumpification of the EU and a crackdown on NGOs by right wing political groups, we need to mobilise and fight back
One-Day Event on Civil SocietyDefending Democracy - 12 June |
The work of civil society organisations is being attacked and undermined, in EU countries and at the EU level.
The goal of anti-democratic forces is to eradicate critical voices that incite reflection or question policies like the EU-Mercosur trade deal. They don’t appreciate that NGOs oppose the lobbying of big business, giving a voice to concerned EU citizens.
We need to come together. This event is an opportunity to discuss how we can counter these developments. That’s why the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament are bringing together experts, researchers, journalists as well as lawmakers from different political groups.
Three panels will look at different challenges:
- 10h30 - 12h00 NGO funding and transparency requirements
- 14h30 - 16h00 Protecting environmental defenders
- 16h15 - 18h00 Forms of anti-democracy campaigning
- 18h00 - 19h00 Networking Cocktail
This is a hybrid event. The physical event will take place in the European Parliament. Please be aware that the panels will take place in two different rooms. Remote connection details will be shared in due time. Interpretation will be available into DE/FR/EN/RO/ESP/IT for the second and third panel. See below more details on the programme, speakers, rooms.
Room: ASP 3G2, hosted by Daniel Freund, Greens/EFA
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EU funding for NGOs has been relentlessly discussed in recent months. In addition to national funding cuts, NGOs face huge pressure at the EU level. This event brings together MEPs from pro-European groups, the European Commission and NGOs to discuss how to defend democracy, a healthy civil society and the EU investments they need. We defend civil society against disinformation and attempts to weaken them.
SPEAKERS
With MEPs Daniel Freund (Greens/EFA); Michal Wawrykiewicz (EPP); Chloé Ridel (S&D); Pascal Canfin (Renew, online); Radan Kanev (EPP); Patrizia Heidegger - European Environmental Bureau; Lisa Schüler - Deutscher Caritas Verband; Gabriella Civico - Civil Society Europe
Room: ASP 1G3, hosted by Marie Toussaint, Greens/EFA
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This workshop will examine the legal, political, and judicial mechanisms used to silence environmental defenders and restrict civic space. With contributions from activists, legal experts, and the UN Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders, this roundtable will explore how these trends undermine democracy, human rights, and international environmental commitments. The session will also present the rapporteur’s calls to action and foster discussion on collective strategies to support defenders and uphold the right to protest.
SPEAKERS
With MEP Marie Toussaint (Greens/EFA); Michel Forst - Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders; Chloé Mikolajczak - environmental activist and influencer; Anne Friel - Client Earth; Greenpeace tbc
Forms of anti-democracy campaigning
Room: ASP 1G3, hosted by MEP Nicu Stefanuta & MEP Alexandra Geese, Greens/EFA
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Across the EU - and especially in Romania as a case study - we have seen the intensification of online disinformation campaigns, the intimidation of civic activists and independent journalists, as well as orchestrated attacks on social media by trolls, bot farms, and politically affiliated media channels. These strategies seem to follow a playbook that we have already seen - in the US. This workshop will examine the increasing struggle for civil society to speak out, as well as digital harassment, conspiracy theories, state-sponsored information warfare - and what we can do about it.
SPEAKERS
With MEP Alexandra Geese & Nicu Stefanuta (Greens/EFA); Renée DiResta - professor and writer; Matei Vrabie - Funky Citizens; Roxana Mandrutiu - Declic; Tamás Bodoky - Investigative Journalist & member of OCCRP