12 October 2026
16.00 – 17.30 CET
REGISTER HERE!
The European Civic Forum’s Civic Space Report 2026 highlights the impact of democratic backsliding on civic participation and fundamental freedoms across Europe. While restrictions on civic space are often shaped by national and European political dynamics, their consequences are felt directly at the local level, affecting the ability of people, CSOs, and communities to engage in public decision-making.
Bringing together evidence from the Civic Space Report and the experiences of practitioners working across different levels of governance, This webinar will explore how civic space shapes the ability of civil society organisations and communities to participate in local decision-making, and the role of municipalities in fostering enabling environments for democratic participation. It will examine the role of municipalities, civil society actors, and European institutions in safeguarding civic freedoms and fostering enabling environments for participation. The discussion will highlight the importance of coordinated action across all levels of governance and society in protecting civic spaces.
The webinar is organised as an interactive panel discussion. We envisage each panelist providing brief introductory remarks (approximately 5–7 minutes), followed by a moderated discussion among speakers and a Q&A session with participants.
The audience will include civil society organisations, representatives of municipalities, human rights practitioners, researchers, and policymakers from across Europe.
Speakers
- MEP Benedetta Scuderi – Discussing the role and actions of European Parliament/ institutions and policymaking in defending civic space, democracy, and fundamental rights.
- Kersty McCourt, Senior Advocacy Advisor at Civil Liberties Union for Europe. – Sharing perspectives from civil society on threats to civic space and strategies for strengthening community resilience and participation.
- Municipal officials working on participation, inclusion and community engagement – Presenting local government approaches to protecting civic space and creating enabling conditions for citizen and CSO involvement.