The second edition of EESC Civil Society Week 2025, from 17 to 20 March, will focus on Strengthening cohesion and participation in polarised societies. Secure your spot here!

There is still time to register for the EESC’s second Civil Society Week, during which Europe’s civil society, EU policy-makers, experts, journalists, and more will come together to discuss one of today’s most pressing challenges—how to counter the polarisation of our societies.

Driven by overlapping crises, from the pandemic and climate change to rising living costs and widening income disparities—polarisation has spread across the EU and beyond, deepening social divisions, eroding trust in democratic institutions, and straining community unity.

In this context, Civil Society Week 2025 is a bold call to action in order to foster social cohesion and strengthen democratic participation. Through lively debates and collaborative workshops, this four-day forum will provide a unique platform for all participants to engage in critical discussions, share best practices, and work together to develop practical solutions. 

What to expect?

Civil Society Week 2025 will feature panel discussions led by the EESC Liaison Group, as well as the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) Day and the EESC Civil Society Prize award ceremony.

It will kick off with a thought-provoking keynote speech by scholar, writer and political commentator Albena Azmanova, who will set the scene, shaping the discourse for the debates to follow.

In the subsequent high-level panel, we will be discussing whether we are ‘Still United in Diversity?’. Panelists will include the Vice-President of the European Parliament Younous Omarjee; Minister for Civil Society on behalf of the Polish Presidency Adriana Porowska; EESC President Oliver Röpke; Co-chair of the EESC Liaison Group Brikena Xhomaqi; Secretary General of the European Movement International Petros Fassoulas; and Mădălina-Mihaela Antoci of the National Youth Council of Moldova.

During Civil Society Week, we will explore how civic education can help bridge divides, how Europe can lead in innovation without compromising its values, and how to make housing more affordable and sustainable while tackling energy poverty and supporting multigenerational living. We will also look at ways to strengthen civil society through public and philanthropic support, how we can ensure that EU policies reflect local needs in the green and blue transition, and how to recognise, protect, and engage with civil society across Europe more effectively.

A special session, co-hosted along with the European Parliament, will specifically address the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and its implications for civil society.

ECI Day 2025

On ECI Day on 18 March, the spotlight will be on the powerful tool of participatory democracy that is the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). Introduced by the Lisbon Treaty, the initiative allows citizens to call on the European Commission to propose new EU legislation on a particular issue. To be considered by the Commission, organisers have to collect 1 million signatures to support their cause.

Through high-level discussions and interactive workshops, participants will explore key topics such as the role of the ECI in tackling polarisation and ways to build stronger support across the Member States. A special focus will be on how civil society organisations can actively participate in the ECI process in order to make citizens’ voices heard in European policymaking.

Participants will also have a unique opportunity to connect directly with ECI organisers—past, present, and future—to exchange best practices and lessons learned for their own campaigns.

Additionally, the event will highlight the importance of impact strategies in making ECIs and citizens’ panels more effective, with a focus on increasing the chances of legislative follow-up by the EU institutions.

Civil Society Prize 2025

The last day of Civil Society Week 2025 will feature, among other things, the 15th EESC Civil Society Prize award ceremony.

The Civil Society Prize aims to raise awareness of civil society’s outstanding contribution to creating a European identity and citizenship as well as to promoting the common values that bolster European integration. It is awarded annually to individuals and civil society organisations for their innovative and creative non-profit projects on different themes relevant to the EU.

This year the prize will be awarded to three projects that combat the harmful polarisation of EU society.

The Week will conclude with a dynamic closing session, with speakers including the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission (tbc); Vice-President of the European Parliament Katarina Barley; EESC President Oliver Röpke; and Secretary General of the Centre for Democracy Foundation in Serbia Nataša Vučković.

Be part of the conversation!

Over its four days of insightful discussions, inspiring high-level speakers, and great networking opportunities, Civil Society Week 2025 promises to be an event you do not want to miss. Secure your spot today and join us to turn the conversation into change. Your voice matters in building a more cohesive and participatory Europe!

The full programme is available here.

Register here before 12 March. (ma)