Safeguarding Civic Space for Young People in Europe
By speaking out, gathering together online and offline, and by participating in public decision-making, individuals and communities use civic space to solve problems and improve lives. However, civil society organisations can often face serious obstacles in their work, some even experience or fear retribution from their governments when expressing their views.
This policy position details the key problems for youth civic spaces in Europe and highlights the demands of the Youth Forum to address them, in the following thematic areas:
• Rights, democracy and the rule of law
• Digitalisation
• Freedom of information and expression
• Freedom of assembly and association
• Funding for youth civil society
• Education and Youth Work
Safeguarding Civic Space for Young People in Europe
Related publications
![](https://www.youthforum.org/files/_660x371_crop_center-center_82_line/240712-PP-Erasmus-overview.jpg 660w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_1320x742_crop_center-center_61_line/240712-PP-Erasmus-overview.jpg 1320w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_440x247_crop_center-center_82_line/240712-PP-Erasmus-overview.jpg 440w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_880x495_crop_center-center_61_line/240712-PP-Erasmus-overview.jpg 880w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_375x210_crop_center-center_60_line/240712-PP-Erasmus-overview.jpg 375w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_750x421_crop_center-center_45_line/240712-PP-Erasmus-overview.jpg 750w)
The future of the Erasmus+ Programme
The relevance of the Erasmus+ Programme gains special light in the current context of global democratic backsliding. However, there are still areas where improvements can be made to ensure that Erasmus+ appropriately reaches all young people and supports the youth sector in Europe.
![](https://www.youthforum.org/files/_660x371_crop_center-center_82_line/Youth-organisations-across-Europe_overview.png 660w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_1320x742_crop_center-center_61_line/Youth-organisations-across-Europe_overview.png 1320w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_440x247_crop_center-center_82_line/Youth-organisations-across-Europe_overview.png 440w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_880x495_crop_center-center_61_line/Youth-organisations-across-Europe_overview.png 880w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_375x210_crop_center-center_60_line/Youth-organisations-across-Europe_overview.png 375w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_750x421_crop_center-center_45_line/Youth-organisations-across-Europe_overview.png 750w)
The situation of youth organisations across Europe
Youth Organisations across Europe are facing an increasingly challenging situation. Political and economic circumstances are leading to shrinking civic spaces and therefore a shrinking chance of youth organisations to fulfil their purpose and represent the voice of young people. Read the motion to find out which of the European Youth Forum's members have been impacted and how, as well as what we commit to internally as part of our Strategic Plan and what we call for externally.
![](https://www.youthforum.org/files/_660x371_crop_center-center_82_line/Civic-spaces-Georgia_overview.png 660w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_1320x742_crop_center-center_61_line/Civic-spaces-Georgia_overview.png 1320w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_440x247_crop_center-center_82_line/Civic-spaces-Georgia_overview.png 440w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_880x495_crop_center-center_61_line/Civic-spaces-Georgia_overview.png 880w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_375x210_crop_center-center_60_line/Civic-spaces-Georgia_overview.png 375w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_750x421_crop_center-center_45_line/Civic-spaces-Georgia_overview.png 750w)
Protecting civil society and civic spaces in Georgia
In March 2023, the Government of Georgia initiated work on a legislative proposal on “foreign agents” that would have forced civil society organisations to be registered as being under foreign influence should they be receiving funding from sources outside of the country. As Georgia initiated negotiations for EU membership merely 6 months ago, this underscores how fragile Democracy and the Rule of Law are in our societies and how civic spaces must be protected tirelessly every day, everywhere.