The European Commission has published a call for expressions of interest to participate in the Civil Society Platform, a new forum for structured dialogue and cooperation between civil society organisations and the European Commission.
The call is open to non-profit civil society organisations working to promote democracy, equality, the rule of law, or the protection of civic space in Europe. Eligible applicants include organisations with experience operating across multiple European Union Member States and/or enlargement countries, as well as a proven track record in promoting European Union values. Selected Platform members will contribute to discussions on civic space, exchange expertise and experience, and support the implementation of the European Union Strategy for Civil Society. The European Commission will select a total of 30 organisations.
The Civil Society Platform is one of the key measures under the EU Strategy for Civil Society, which aims to strengthen effective and meaningful dialogue between the European Commission and civil society organisations. In the longer term, the Platform's work is expected to expand to other areas of public policy. The Strategy also envisages strengthening dialogue between public and private donors and civil society organisations to identify funding needs and improve the complementarity of different funding sources.
The deadline for submitting applications is 3 August 2026. More information is available on the European Commission website.
