The EU Commission’s new Civil Society Strategy, promised by Ursula von der Leyen in 2024, aims to protect civic space, strengthen participation, and secure funding for NGOs. On paper, it sounds promising. But in practice, it is deeply undermined by the recent commission’s own actions.

A recent study found 275 anti-gender actors across Europe received $1.8bn [€1.56bn] between 2019 and 2023, an average of €3.64m per organisation. So, the design of the next EU budget is a critical question for democracy itself: will those defending rights and equality receive the resources they need to shape a better future for Europe?

Justice ministers from the Council of Europe’s 46 member states will meet in Strasbourg on 10 December to debate the future of the European Convention on Human Rights.

EU states are struggling with upcoming border rules that critics say could led to detention-like centres. Under the new regime authorities will have only seven days to screen a prospective asylum seeker.

Today, we kick off an anniversary campaign to convince new supporting members to join EUobserver's mission of providing the information citizens need to safeguard EU democracy.

Russian spies are still active in the EU capital and have a "higher risk appetite" than before the Ukraine war — despite Belgium's efforts to push back against their plots.