The PROSECO project is moving into the next phase of monitoring the conditions for civil society in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Croatia. Over the past months, we finalized a shared methodology and, in cooperation with experts from civil society, academia, and practice, completed data collection through expert panels across five thematic pillars: the regulatory environment, access to funding, participation, safe operating conditions, and the capacities and resilience of civil society organizations. Initial findings indicate that although civic space in the Czech Republic remains open, it faces growing pressures in the form of administrative burdens, unstable funding, and increasingly hostile public rhetoric toward NGOs.
As part of the European project PROSECO – Empowering Civic Space, we continue to monitor the conditions for civil society organizations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Croatia. The project was launched in April 2024 together with partner organizations Glopolis, Malý Berlín, CROSOL, and the Peace Institute, with the aim of strengthening civic space, supporting cooperation among civil society organizations, and protecting democratic values and the rule of law in Central and Southeast Europe.
An important component of the project is the development of a methodology and long-term monitoring framework for assessing the conditions under which civil society operates and identifying trends that either strengthen or weaken civic space. In cooperation with the Czech partner organization Glopolis, we have now completed the first round of data collection involving 25 experts. The findings will be published in November 2025 and followed by dialogue with a broad range of civil society stakeholders.
A strong democracy requires not only a functioning state but also an active society. Civil society organizations, associations, and grassroots initiatives bring practical experience, support people in everyday situations, highlight emerging problems, and contribute to the development of public policy solutions. A healthy balance between the state and an active civil society creates an environment of stability, trust, and prosperity.
In recent years, however, international organizations such as the OECD and the United Nations have pointed to a growing trend of shrinking civic space — the gradual restriction of space for civic activity. This trend does not concern only authoritarian regimes; increasingly, democratic states are also facing polarization, disinformation, and declining trust in public institutions.
The Czech Republic is also showing several warning signs, including increasing administrative burdens, uncertainty surrounding funding for public-interest activities, and stigmatizing rhetoric directed at “non-profit organizations.” This is why it is important to systematically monitor the conditions for civil society and develop recommendations that can contribute to improving them.
Over the past months, the project team developed a shared methodology for monitoring civic space and launched data collection in the Czech Republic. The process took place through four expert panels composed of specialists from academia and practice.
The monitoring focuses on five key pillars:
The goal is to create a long-term framework capable of tracking both positive and negative trends, comparing developments across countries, and identifying risks threatening civic space.
Initial expert consultations confirm that fundamental rights such as freedom of association, assembly, and expression remain well protected in the Czech Republic, and that the regulatory environment for civil society organizations is generally stable. Establishing and operating civil society organizations is broadly possible without major obstacles.
At the same time, several long-term challenges have become apparent. Experts highlighted inconsistent administrative practices, excessive bureaucratic burdens, and limited legal capacities among smaller organizations. Another significant issue is the growing stigmatizing rhetoric used by parts of the political representation toward NGOs, which undermines trust in public-interest activities and increases pressure on organizations providing services to citizens.
Funding remains a major challenge for the civil society sector. Although the legal framework allows access to both domestic and international funding sources, public support systems continue to rely predominantly on short-term project-based financing. Organizations frequently struggle with delayed payments, uncertainty regarding the continuation of services, and a lack of multi-year funding mechanisms. Recent cuts to U.S. foreign assistance have also exposed the vulnerability of organizations working in the areas of human rights, equality, and migrant integration.
Discussions also addressed the quality of public participation in policymaking. Although examples of good practice exist within some institutions, the involvement of civil society remains too often inconsistent and formalistic. Clear participation standards, transparent rules, and systematic inclusion of vulnerable groups are still lacking.
The emerging methodology aims to connect existing data, expert knowledge, and the practical experience of organizations working in the field in order to create a practical tool for the long-term monitoring of civic space. We understand monitoring not only as data collection, but also as a way to strengthen cooperation and dialogue within civil society and between civil society, public administration, and the wider public.
The methodology aims to:
The monitoring results will serve not only civil society organizations, but also public institutions, experts, and the wider public as a basis for informed debate on the state of democracy and civil society.
We would like to thank all participating experts for their time, engagement, expertise, and inspiring discussions.
Regulatory Environment: Alena Hájková, Ondřej Kopečný, Petr Pavlok, David Valouch, Martin Vokálek
Access to Funding: Jitka Fořtová, Pavla Gomba, Aleš Mrázek, Jiří Richter, Aleš Sedláček, Klára Šplíchalová
Participation and Consultation: Petra Guasti, Roman Haken, Tamara Kováčová, Andrea Krchová, Sabina Malcová, Lucie Mervardová, Barbora Mičicová
Safe Environment and Resilience: Adriana Černá, Jitka Doubnerová, Magda Faltová, Anna Indra Štefanides, Anna Uhnak Kárník, Marie Peřinová, Lucia Zachariášová
