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Civil organisations from across the country discussed at a meeting in Sofia common problems and possible solutions

On 19 June 2024, 38 representatives of 23 civil society organizations working on the ground across the country – from Ruse to Haskovo and from Varna to Sofia – gathered at the shared social space SHTRAK in Sofia. The meeting was organized by the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law on the initiative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bulgaria. Special guests of the meeting were H.E. Simon van der Burg, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Jes Brogaard Nielsen, Ambassador of Denmark, and representatives of the diplomatic missions of Switzerland and Belgium.

At the opening of the event H.E. Simon van der Burg stressed the need for solidarity and common action against threats to democratic values and civic space:

We live in challenging, even turbulent, times. European democracies are facing a stress test. This is also true for civil society in many countries in Europe.  We are in this together. We need to be resilient and creative. To defend our values. To build our future.

H.E. Simon van der Burg

The organisations represented in the meeting work in the fields of the rule of law, the fight against corruption, the protection of nature and animal rights, climate change, the protection of the rights of vulnerable groups (minority rights, women's rights, refugees, people with disabilities) and youth policies and civic participation. Despite their diverse fields of activity, the representatives of the organisations united behind common issues concerning shared democratic values and the protection of civil society.

Highlights were:

  • Problems in the partnership of local authorities with civil society organisations and the freedom of local media;
  • More efforts are needed to ensure transparency, protection of human rights and good governance standards;
  • Adequate policies for real inclusion of vulnerable groups, young people and environmental protection, relying on sustainable models.

Access to long-term funding, including public funds for public benefit activities and services, remains a common problem, especially for smaller organisations.

The organisations also highlighted as a priority the need to take action on:

  • Common campaigns and increased communication to attract more people to civic causes;
  • Investing in civic education as an important tool for attitudes shifting.

Solidarity and cooperation are prerequisites for the development of civil society. Therefore, in addition to being a space for discussion, the meeting provided an opportunity for participants to get to know activists outside their "bubble" and to set the stage for future joint actions.

The meeting is organized within the CSO Nexus project, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The opinions and positions expressed during the meeting are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the official positions or opinions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.