The protests that have swept Europe since late September have been fuelled by assorted grievances: from the decrepit state of schools and overcrowded classrooms, to the cost of living and poor pay; from the lack of affordable housing and soaring rents, to corruption and failing public services.
The looting and violence that has accompanied some of the unrest cannot be justified. Yet it should not obscure the fact that the majority of the demonstrations have been peaceful and driven by legitimate frustrations.
Many protestors feel that the social contract is broken: that their governments are failing to provide the economic or housing opportunities they need, that their voices are unheard, and that their life prospects are stymied by forces outside their control.
The question is whether institutions will listen and respond.
As trust in mainstream politicians and the institutions of power erodes, the danger is that this festering discontent is exploited by populists and anti-democratic forces intent on sowing division and hatred.
Democratic renewal
The scenes we’re witnessing unfold across Europe are an urgent reminder that we must not just defend democracy, but renew it.
The need for democratic renewal is one of the main conclusions of our Future of Democracy in Europe report, which was released this month.
The first step in this process is listening. Restoring peoples’ faith in democracy means reconnecting it to their everyday concerns, from housing to employment, to education and the cost of living. It also means giving them the sense that they have agency over the decisions shaping their lives: democracy’s future must be built with people, not simply designed for them.
To play an effective part in this, civil society and philanthropy must engage more deeply with the public, build broader coalitions, show a greater willingness to experiment, and provide sustained investment in the resilience of those defending democracy.
We can see the seeds of democratic renewal in peaceful protest, as well as those we work with.
The demonstrations show that people are still democratically engaged: by demanding change, they’re seeking to exercise democratic power. Meanwhile the flourishing civic alliances, grassroots organising, and groundbreaking independent journalism of those we work with is a beacon for democratic renewal.
In solidarity,
ELISA PETER
Director, Civitates
European democracy has entered perilous waters. Civil society, independent media and digital-rights organisations are confronting immediate threats while also facing a harder question: how can we move beyond defending what exists and build a democracy that people can genuinely believe in?
In this month’s featured article, Civitates Fund Director Elisa Peter and Mercator Switzerland Foundation Director Andrew Holland introduce “The Future of Democracy in Europe”. Drawing on a year-long foresight process, they explain why democratic renewal demands bold, coordinated action – from building broader coalitions and investing in resilience to sharing power and preparing for multiple futures.
A New Vision for Democracy
How can we build a democracy that speaks more convincingly to people’s lives? In the article that launched #DemocracyFutures, Civitates Impact & Learning Manager Maria Guerra Arias opens a shared conversation about democratic renewal.
Rather than offering a fixed blueprint, she calls on civil society, independent media and philanthropy to challenge assumptions, expand what feels possible and help shape a stronger democratic future together.
Civitates Forum Report
The Future of Democracy in Europe report grew from a collective process grounded in the experiences of people working on democracy’s front lines.
A key part of that foundation was the 2026 Civitates Forum, where 150 civil society, media, digital-rights and philanthropic partners shared insights, challenged assumptions and explored possible futures together.
Discover the conversations and insights from the Forum that laid the foundations for our latest report.
Read the Civitates Forum report.
Bridging the Imagination Gap: What Europe Needs After von der Leyen’s State of the Union
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the European Union address in September offered a familiar refrain: Europe must become stronger, more independent, and better equipped to navigate a turbulent world. This commentary by the European Cultural Foundation’s (ECF’s) Head of Public Policy, Isabelle Schwarz, links this geopolitical vision to ordinary citizens’ place in the EU’s future.
Different voices, one democracy
On September 15, civil society organisations, policymakers and others gathered in Brussels to launch the Democracy Forward Inspiration Festival, organised by the National Lottery Fund for Democracy, the King Baudouin Foundation, in partnership with Bozar, BELvue and the City of Brussels. The message was clear: democracy cannot be taken for granted. It needs reliable information, active participation and spaces where different voices can meet and be heard.
Democratic renewal begins to blossom in Hungary
As democracy resurges in Hungary, with citizens increasingly engaging in public affairs, the Civil College Foundation’s (CCF’s) Participation Month in October helped turn this desire to participate into collective action, with workshops and practical tools for people to shape the decisions affecting their communities. As part of this, members of the ACT coalition set out on a country-wide tour to work with local actors on building local democracy and creating forums for local public discourse.
Kill it or fix it? Personalisation as the default of commercial internet
Polish NGO Panoptykon Foundation’s new analysis shows that online personalised services do not have to exploit our vulnerabilities. Their detailed commentary is against personalisation driven solely by platforms’ commercial interests. This is especially relevant in the context of the European Commission’s upcoming Digital Fairness Act proposal, expected next month which aims to strengthen online consumer protection and modernise digital market rules.
Meta deletes viral video on its AI glasses
Bits of Freedom’s campaign against Meta’s AI glasses has proved too successful for the tech giant. When Bits of Freedom’s video, produced with Dutch satirical programme maker Roel Maalderink, went viral on Instagram, Meta deleted it. Bits of Freedom say what they call Meta’s “pervert glasses” pose a threat to public safety and privacy. Read more here.
Three days of learning and solidarity in Bulgaria
Representatives from dozens of organisations from across Bulgaria gathered in Sofia at the end of September for the annual meeting of the Ravni BG coalition, founded by the Bulgarian Fund for Women (BFW). Over three days of learning, discussions and solidarity, participants shared experiences, expertise and inspiration. Read more here.
Thirty-one people from 18 countries attend 11th Big Fat Brussels Meeting
Wikimedia Europe’s annual autumn gathering of ‘Wikimedians’ in Brussels over two days in early October tackled some of the defining EU digital issues of our time: from the KIDS Act and age verification, copyright and the CSAM Regulation, and how to build, defend and fund human knowledge in the age of AI.
Understanding France’s deeply disturbing True Crime Community
French NGO Point de Contact is in increasing demand as an expert source on the deeply disturbing online phenomenon of France’s True Crime Community (TTC), a movement associated with glorifying mass killers. In the wake of a school shooting in Aubagne, in which the 14-year-old shooter was officially linked to France’s TTC, Point de Contact, who in June published the first French report on the topic, has appeared on France’s biggest TV news show and been sought by other media, institutions and professionals.
Austrian campaign for independent Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office gathers pace
Nearly 30,000 people have supported #aufstehn’s petition for an independent Federal Prosector’s Office at the head of the public prosecutor’s office. Experts have long called for such a role to be established to reduce political interference in criminal proceedings. As part of its work within an informal coalition of organisations from the justice sector #aufstehn was invited by Austria’s Ministry of Justice to present its demands at the end of September.
Solomon puts Europe’s data centres under the spotlight
Greek non-profit media outlet Solomon goes from strength to strength. Their major investigation into the secrecy surrounding data centres’ energy and water consumption in Europe, published with Lighthouse Reports and media partners across Europe, received major pickups. They’ve also been shortlisted for two journalism awards: the Helen Darbishire Award for their investigation “Unaccompanied children sleep on the floor in shifts. The EU is aware”, and the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism for their report, “‘They protect the law while breaking it’: Inside Europol’s shadow IT system”.
Cittadini Reattivi pushes journalistic barriers
Italian investigative journalism outlet Cittadini Reattivi continues to produce groundbreaking work while innovating with formats. Their investigation into the environmental and health problems surrounding Taranto’s major steelworks was recently published by independent Italian media outlet Valigia Blu, and is based on years of reporting. Meanwhile their documentary, Taranto Chiama, received its first international Honourable Mention at the Activists Without Borders Film Festival in London.
The Future of Democracy in Europe report launches
Over the past year Civitates asked civil society leaders, journalists, digital rights experts and funders across Europe what comes next for democracy: what is worth defending, what needs rethinking, and what the field expects of those who fund it.
Around 70 people attended the report’s webinar launch (see the recording here) where Katarzyna Szymielewicz (Panoptykon Foundation) and Crystal Logan (Reva and David Logan Foundation) joined Maria Guerra-Arias (Civitates) to reflect on the findings and their implications. The key findings are broken down here.
“We can’t know which future will arrive, but we can be ready for more than one… The future is uncertain, but it isn’t fixed,” noted Maria.
Combatting AI’s dangers
Claudio Cesarano, Civitates’ Senior Programme Manager, Tech and Democracy, moderated a panel at Forum 2000 on October 12th, organised by Forum 2000 Foundation, in Prague.
Experts Anca Montoro (Project Manager, Context, Romania), Natalia Stanusch (AI Forensics, Italy) and Inga Trauthig (Consulting Scientist, Science and Methodology Committee for International Panel on the Information Environment) discussed AI’s rapidly evolving impact on our democracies and lives.
An overriding conclusion was that we need cross-sector collaborations between journalists, technologists, public authorities and platforms to monitor and counter the problem.
2-3 /11/26 – World Forum for Democracy 2026 – Rupture or renewal? Democratic security for the future
Location: Council of Europe, Strasbourg, France.
The 14th edition looks at how democracies can anticipate future risks and build collective responses, and it includes a Democracy Innovation Award and an open Call for Initiatives. More details here.
4 & 18/11/26 – Participatory Tools in Local Decision-Making
Location: Online
Hungary’s Civil College Foundation (CKA) is running two online workshops in November exploring how people can have a say in local decisions between elections. CKA’s practical online workshop presents tools for supporting resident participation and public input, and explores how local community participation can become an everyday part of democratic life. Registration here.
19-21/11/26 – Shaping Democracy 2026: Building Democracy Across Borders
Location: Democracy International, Gürzenichstraße 21 a-c Cologne, Germany and online
Democracy International hosts interactive workshops, discussions, exhibitions, and public events, bringing together citizens, activists, researchers, local government representatives, and participation practitioners to share and connect. Registration here.
20/11/26 – OHCHR Europe Regional Consultation on the Safety of Journalists
Location: (Brussels and Online), 9:00 to 16:00 (Central European Standard Time)
This regional consultation will bring together a wide range of stakeholders to discuss safety and protection challenges facing journalists, including opportunities to strengthen cooperation between protection actors. Registration here. More information: Renaud Gaudin De Villaine, OHCHR.
Calls:
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- EU CERV Union Values call. The third and final CERV Union Values call offers an unprecedented €114 million – with a 94% co-funding rate – for intermediaries that strengthen civil society organisations across EU Member States and provide them with cascading grants. Projects may run for up to four years, with applications due by 24 February 2027; a public information session will take place on 3 December. More information here.
- EEA Civil Society Fund Greece. The Civil Society Fund in Greece has launched its first four open calls for proposals, making €5.1 million available to support civil society initiatives on media pluralism, human rights, anti-discrimination, democracy, rule of law, organisational development and community engagement. The calls are managed by Bodossaki Foundation and Solidarity Now under the EEA Grants programme. Applications close 15 December 2026. Details are here.
- Culture Helps Solidarity Collaboration Grant call. This European Cultural Foundation (ECF) call supports international projects that use arts and culture to aid the integration of displaced Ukrainians into host communities, with a strong focus on mental well-being, vulnerable groups, and veterans. The fund prioritises cross-border partnerships between at least one. Ukrainian-led organisation (operating in Ukraine or in exile) and at least one organisation based in a Creative Europe country. Details are here.
- Fellowship Call to Research ERASMUS and the Making of European Belonging. In 2027, ERASMUS celebrates its 40th anniversary. To mark this occasion, the ECF offers a Creative Research Fellowship with a grant of €10,000, inviting a professional creative practitioner to explore its historical archives, held at the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU) in Florence, and rediscover the importance of the ERASMUS chapter in the making of Europe. Details here.
- Remembering democratic transitions, the (re-)building of democratic institutions, and strengthening society based on the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights. The European Commission has launched the 2026 European Remembrance call for proposals. The call supports projects that explore Europe’s shared history, strengthen historical awareness and promote democratic values, mutual understanding and tolerance. Application period: 21 October 2026 – 24 February 2027. Total budget: €28 million. Details are here.
- Provision of services related to data collection and research services on fundamental rights issues. Open call for tenders for the renewal of FRANET, the FRA’s multidisciplinary research network. Through this FRANET Call for tender, FRA intends to contract at least one organisation in each EU Member State and in the candidate countries Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia, to provide the Agency, upon request, with data and information on a range of fundamental rights issues. The deadline for submitting offers is 7 December 2026. Details are here.
Jobs & Opportunities:
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- Assifero seeks a new Secretary General. Assifero, the Italian association of foundations and philanthropic entities and the leading body for organised philanthropy in Italy is seeking a new Secretary General to lead the association through a phase of growth and consolidation of the role of Italian institutional philanthropy, at a crucial time for strengthening its contribution to building a just, equitable, and plural society. Details are here.
We Recommend:
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- France mission report: Media freedom at critical juncture ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The Media Freedom Rapid Response has published a mission report on media freedom in France, highlighting growing concerns for press freedom and the operating environment for independent media ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
- Understanding Transnational Repression (TNR) in Germany Through Three Lenses: The Repressive State, the Host State, and the Targeted Individual. Coalition Against Transnational Repression in Germany has published a new position paper on transnational repression, proposing a human rights-based framework for understanding TNR through three interconnected lenses: the repressive state, the host state and the targeted individual. The paper also contributes to ongoing discussions by clarifying key concepts and terminology related to transnational repression and those affected by it.
- Imaginings of Europe – Culture, Dreams, Solidarity. Through personal reflections and testimonies, essays, creative writing and photographic work, the contributors to this new book, supported by the European Cultural Foundation, on the Imaginings of Europe explore what Europe means today and what it might become tomorrow. Several central questions run through the book, starting with: Do we need a European dream?
- Sacrifice Zones: Eco-civic Information in Italy’s Forgotten Territories. Journalismfund Europe has published an overview of Cittadini Reattivi’s series of multimedia investigations across different Italian territories, combining field reporting, interviews, environmental and health data, scientific studies, FOIA requests, administrative documents and court decisions. The project is also supported by the Pluralistic Media for Democracy programme.
