For years, the European Union (EU) has been confronted with a multitude of challenges, facing multiple crises (permacrisis) and in need of preparing several major transitions of our societies – from green and digital transitions, over economic transformations to demographic change. At the same time, global crises, including the war in Ukraine and the Middle East, require the EU to redefine its role on the world stage.
An active, involved civil society is crucial in helping the Union successfully navigate these challenges. Particularly at a time of rising nationalism, European civil society can make a vital contribution to enhancing European dialogue and understanding. Independent research and policy advice are the cornerstones of evidence-based policymaking and thus have a major role in generating informed responses to today’s manifold challenges. However, in the past years, we have also seen shrinking spaces for civil society and non-profit organisations, both globally and on the European level.
Connecting Europe was initiated in 2017 by the European Policy Centre (EPC) in Brussels and funded by Stiftung Mercator, a German independent foundation. Connecting Europe’s goal is to connect civil society organisations with EU decision-makers, as well as transnationalising EU policy debates.
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