Civil society chief: social media can't replace engagement

Amid alarm bells over the rise of illiberal democracy in Europe, the space for civil society is "shrinking" in Europe, the new head of the EU's Social and Economic Committee has warned.



But Luca Jahier, who was elected on 17 April, wants to believe in what he dubs a 'rEUnaissance', in which civil society could be a "force for change".

"We are going through a serious, accelerating and cross-cutting transformation," he told EUobserver in an interview.

Next to the digital tra...