The article warns of the consequences of systematically weakening NGOs across Europe. These organizations have been vital in ensuring clean air, safe products, and climate protection, but now face defunding and delegitimization. Without civil society’s watchdog role, democracy risks becoming a “spectator sport,” where power operates unchecked between elections. The dismantling trend is already visible, with health NGOs losing EU funding and shutting down. Experts argue that accountability fades when civic space shrinks, turning participation into a hollow concept. The conclusion is stark: democracy’s heartbeat depends on a strong civil society, and current trends are dangerously undermining it.
Source: EUobserver
Date: November 4, 2025