Hungary:
Hungary’s draft law on transparency of public life threatens the civil society: Under the guise of defending national sovereignty, the draft proposes heavy restrictions on civil society, media and public discourse. The draft law allows authorities to blacklist any entity receiving foreign funding (including EU grants), if it is deemed to influence public life. Read more here.
Sovereignty Protection Office escalates attacks on NGOs: Since January, the newly-established Hungarian Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO) has released several reports targeting civil society. These include allegations against EU-funded programmes, such as CERV and international funders, including USAID. Read more here.
Constitutional amendment allows stripping dual citizens of nationality for “Acting in foreign interests”: Aimed at protecting national sovereignty, the vague language of the law raises serious legal, civic space and human rights concerns, particularly over its likely use against civil society actors, independent journalists, and government critics. Read more here.
Law bans Pride and expands facial recognition surveillance: The amendments adopted in March allow the Hungarian police to use facial recognition technology in all types of infraction procedures, not just serious ones. Read more here.
Bulgaria:
Attacks on fundamental freedoms and civic space through anti-LGBTIQ+ legislation: A proposed amendment to the Child Protection Act would ban access to and dissemination of any information related to gender identity and expression that does not conform to the view of sex as strictly biological. It also seeks to criminalise the provision of medical services related to gender transition for minors and to revoke licenses from social service providers who share such information. Read more here.
The Netherlands:
Legislative proposals risk stigmatising CSOs, expanding censorship and granting more powers to authorities:
- The Civil Society Organisations Transparency Act (WTMO) continues to raise concerns regarding freedom of association, right to privacy and the stigmatisation of CSOs.
- The Administrative Prohibition Support Organisations Act (WBVOO) would allow arbitrary decisions that could be used to stifle dissent and criminalise CSOs.
- A draft law on online incitement of public disorder could expand mayors' powers to restrict online content, while concerns have been raised about the disproportionate policing of protests.
Read more here.
France:
New proposal limits civil society in supporting migrants: A proposed law aims to deprive civil society organisations of their role in informing and supporting migrants in detention centres on the grounds of alleged bias, raising fears of authorities’ efforts to silence human rights and watchdog organisations and prevent them from accessing the centres. The law would give these responsibilities instead to the immigration office. Read more here.
Government moves to dissolve Palestine solidarity and antifascist activist groups: On 30 April, the French government initiated dissolution procedures against three associations: La Jeune Garde (an antifascist association), Urgence Palestine (a Palestine solidarity group), and Lyon Populaire (a far-right group). Read more here.
Proposed law on “simplification” threatens public participation: A proposed law on “simplification” sought to dissolve around 20 consultative Regional Economic, Social and Environmental Councils (CESERs), including those in the health and environmental sectors, threatening the representation of civil society and public participation in decision-making. However, public pressure led to a reversal of the planned abolition, for now. Read more here.
The MACS: Monitoring Action for Civic Space is co-funded by the European Union. It is implemented by the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law, European Civic Forum, Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law, Foreningen Nyt Europa, Le Mouvement associatif, Okotars Alapitvany, Stichting Nederlands Helsinki Comite, Ogolnopolska Federacja Organizacji Pozarzadowych, Fundația pentru Dezvoltarea Societății Civile.