Joint letter: Don’t cut Europe’s investment in democracy

Together with IPPF EN and 30 other European networks, we are calling on Member States to increase the AgoraEU budget and saveguard CERV+ funding in the EU’s next long-term budget.

Civil society is essential to protecting democracy, fundamental rights and equality across Europe. But without adequate funding, organisations working to uphold these values cannot meet growing needs.

Today, 32 European civil society networks and organisations, including IPPF European Network, representing more than 2800 organisations have sent a joint letter to EU Member States calling for stronger support to civil society as part of the AgoraEU programme in the next EU budget (MFF).

Specifically, we urge the Council to:

• Increase the overall AgoraEU budget, rather than reduce it.
• Safeguard the strand dedicated to democracy, citizens, equality, rights and values (CERV+) by maintaining its proposed share of funding.

The Commission’s own evaluation shows that demand for CERV funding far exceeds available resources, with many high-quality projects unable to receive support due to budget constraints.

At a time when civic space is shrinking, disinformation is spreading, and anti-rights actors are becoming increasingly organised, this is a necessary investment in Europe’s democratic resilience.

The EU recently made new legislative and policy commitments to safeguard democracy, civil society and equality. Now is the time to strengthen — not weaken — the EU’s budget for democracy, fundamental rights and equality.

Signatories:

1 – AGE Platform Europe

2 – Aidsfonds 

3 – ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy

4 – Balkan Civil Society Development Network 

5 – Center for Reproductive Rights

6 -Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties)

7 – End FGM European Network 

8 – ERGO Network – European Roma Grassroots Organisations

9 – Eurocentralasian Lesbian* Community (EL*C)

10 – EuroClio – European Association of History Educators

11 – European Civic Forum

12 – European Disability Forum

13 – European Network Against Racism (ENAR)

14 – European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC)

15 – European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC)

16 – Equinet

17 – Equipop

18 – Humanists International

19 – IGLYO – The International LGBTQI Youth and Student Organisation

20 – ILGA-Europe

21 – International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) 

22 – International Planned Parenthood Federation – European Network (IPPF EN)

23 – JEF Europe – Young European Federalists

24 – MenEngage Europe 

25 – Protection International 

26 – Organisation Intersex International Europe (OII Europe)

27 – Philanthropy Europe Association (Philea)

28 – Save the Children

29 – TGEU – Trans Europe and Central Asia 

30 – Union of European Federalists

31 – Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE) Network

32 – Women’s Funds Europe