The EU continues to play a key role in safeguarding societal dynamics
In our submission, we underlined that despite a clear decline in democracy and the rule of law in Türkiye, CSOs continue to play a vital role in safeguarding societal dynamics that support the EU process and encourage reform efforts.
While EU standards and best practices are still referenced both in bureaucracy and civil society circles, we emphasized that the forthcoming EU Civil Society Strategy will become an important reference document and advocacy tool for CSOs in Türkiye.
“In the past, when similar initiatives were discussed in the context of Türkiye, the absence of a direct strategy document at the EU level and the lack of a binding link between civil society regulations and the acquis indirectly slowed down these processes. The new strategy has the potential to become a reference document for civil society in Türkiye in the future, thereby accelerating reform processes.”
We also stressed the critical importance of the EU maintaining an approach that strengthens civil society in Türkiye and sustains dialogue with it. We highlighted the need for concrete measures such as the continuation of civil society dialogue, visa facilitation, and increased financial support to CSOs, which are essential to prevent this bond from breaking.
The EU should be not only a donor but a safeguard of democratic norms
The strongest demand reflected in CSO responses was that the EU should not only act as a donor but also play an active political role in safeguarding democratic norms and protecting civic space.
According to the survey, the most common challenges faced by CSOs in Türkiye are restrictive legal frameworks, administrative obstacles, and excessive bureaucracy. These are followed by legal actions/SLAPPs against CSOs, physical threats and online attacks, negative media campaigns, lack of funding and financial restrictions, censorship and limitations on access to information, and operational difficulties.
Key concerns also include discriminatory attitudes by authorities towards organizations that do not share government views, limited opportunities for cooperation with public administration due to non-merit-based appointments, and the insufficient visibility of civil society contributions in public discourse.
Further challenges identified were threats of legal sanctions, low public interest in rights-based work, limited and discriminatory public support, and a political and legal environment that discourages citizens from joining associations. Arbitrary inspections, discriminatory public policies, hostile media campaigns, and the climate of mistrust created by political polarization were also reported to weaken the independence of civil society.
Expectations from the EU: More Inclusive and Accessible Support
Respondents called for EU funds to be designed in a way that facilitates access for smaller organizations, while also providing support for institutional capacity building, human resources, and access to international networks. They also stressed the importance of the EU maintaining a neutral, inclusive, and non–double-standard approach, as well as adopting a more facilitative stance on visa issues.
Public funds must be transparent and fair
CSOs emphasized that public financial resources must be distributed transparently and fairly, and opened to access by small and local organizations. They underlined that public funds are vital to ensure CSO independence, enable rights-based work, and provide rapid responses to societal needs. However, they noted that current funding is distributed in an unequal, biased, and difficult-to-access manner, calling for the development of transparency and independent evaluation mechanisms.
It was also emphasized that public funding is particularly critical for organizations working with disadvantaged groups (such as women, children, and refugees) to maintain their independence and respond swiftly to community needs.
Positive examples also exist
CSOs noted that cooperation with local administrations has led to positive results in the areas of youth, women, and disaster response. Municipalities involving CSOs in processes such as venue provision, logistical support, and coordination were found to enhance social impact. Solidarity networks established after the earthquake and projects aimed at fostering belonging among refugees were also cited as examples of CSOs’ capacity to act quickly in times of crisis.
* There is no English version of the Contribution Document to the European Union Civil Society Strategy.
