Civic space is a fundamental foundation for economic growth, social progress and democratic health. In Europe civic space has consistently shrunk over the past decade and this has accelerated since the late 2010s. According to the CIVICUS Monitor the share of the population in Europe who live in countries rated as ‘open’ or ‘narrowed’ has decreased from 58.3% in 2019 to just 26.5% in 2025. The European Civic Forum similarly concludes that civic freedoms have deteriorated or continued to shrink across the EU in recent years. The European Centre for Not-for-Profit Law notes that restrictions are no longer limited to Central/Eastern Europe but now affect older, established democracies as well. In summary, Europe has moved from having largely “open” to increasingly “narrowed” or “obstructed” civic space, including in major democracies.
