The CIVICUS Monitor, a global platform which tracks and rates civic space in 198 countries and territories, has downgraded the civic space rating of France, Germany and Italy from “Narrowed” to “Obstructed” in is annual People Power Under Attack report.
In addition, three countries outside the EU, Serbia, Georgia and Switzerland, were also downgraded. The downgrades send a strong warning: civic space across Europe is in rapid decline. Serbia and Georgia have now fallen from “Obstructed” to “Repressed” on the five-point scale, while France, Germany and Italy have dropped from “Narrowed” to “Obstructed” and Switzerland from “Open” to “Narrowed”. These rating changes are the culmination of years of repeated attacks against civil society, democracy and fundamental freedoms.
In France, the downgrade reflects systemic rule of law and civic space issues, including escalating police violence, surveillance practices, and arrests of protesters, targeting of journalists, and persistent restrictions on fundamental rights. CSOs, in particular those focusing on migrants’ rights and Palestine solidarity, have faced restrictions, harassment, smear campaigns and dissolutions. The Separatism Law continues to make it easier for authorities to dissolve an association via presidential decree upon proposal of the interior ministry. The law, which came into force in 2022, introduced a “contract of republican engagement”, a requirement for civil society to access funding or obtain accreditations. This “contract” requires associations to commit to respecting the principles of liberty, equality, fraternity and human dignity, the secular nature of the State, and to refrain from any action which undermines public order. Over the past year, climate activists have been delegitimised through official rhetoric framing them as extremists, and journalists reported a high number of legal and other threats and interference.
In Italy, the downgrade comes after years of systemic backsliding characterised by expanding police powers, the stigmatisation of activists, and weakening protections for journalists and defenders. Early this year,the Security Law was adopted through a fast-tracked procedure. The law expands police powers over assemblies and introduces new criminal offences,raising concerns about its impact on the rule of law.. Civil society and trade unions mobilised nationwide against the law in the past year, warning of deep implications for the freedom of peaceful assembly. Other developments include the harassment and degrading treatment of climate and Palestine solidarity activists, continuation of attacks against migrant rights groups, the establishment of “red zones” restricting access to public spaces, and expanding surveillance concerns following several confirmed cases of the use of spyware against journalists, further highlighting the shrinking space for independent media.
Germany’s downgrade reflects a long-term trend and intensifying attempts to depoliticise civil society’s oversight and watchdog role, restrict protests, arbitrary arrests, intimidation and the use of excessive force against protesters, as well as attack CSOs and movements critical of government policy. This is particularly notable on environmental and climate justice groups and Palestine and Israel, with the persistent pattern of police violence and suppression of Palestine solidarity activism raising significant concerns. The parliamentary inquiry targeting NGO funding and “political neutrality”, funding cuts to human rights organisations, and a parliamentary resolution which broadened the definition of antisemitism, limiting certain forms of advocacy and speech, are equally concerning developments. Additionally, restrictions on the freedom of expression, the media and journalists, as well as universities faced political pressure, leading to silencing, censorship, and event cancellations.
Serbia’s downgrade reflects a long-standing erosion of civic space and deep mistrust of government. The mass protests and nationwide strikes against the Vučić government that followed a fatal railway station canopy collapse led to a new level of civic space crackdown. Instead of addressing public concerns, the authorities responded with unprecedented repression. The authorities responded with threats, intimidation, arbitrary arrests, illegal surveillance, privacy violations, smear and disinformation campaigns in pro-government media, and police raids targeting activists, CSOs, journalists and students. The repression extended to foreign nationals and included entry bans and detentions framed as combating “foreign interference.” Protesters and journalists faced police brutality and excessive force, sonic weapons and severe restrictions on freedom of movement, including suspensions of public transport ahead of major demonstrations. Protesters, lawyers, academics, and teachers supporting the protests, as well as trade unionists, were singled out for reprisals, and activists were targeted by unfounded counter-terrorism measures.
Following the disputed 2024 elections, Georgia has seen ongoing mass protests, which have been met with increasingly harsh crackdowns, including police violence, politically motivated prosecutions, and new laws restricting assembly, expression, and association. Authorities have intensified attacks on CSOs, journalists, and opposition figures through raids, detentions, smear campaigns, and criminal investigations under “foreign agent” narratives. Media freedom has sharply deteriorated, with detention of journalists and numerous assaults on reporters.
Switzerland also faces growing concerns over civic space. Civil society was hit by funding cuts, reforms to increase state surveillance powers were introduced, and protest restrictions targeting Palestine solidarity, feminist, and anti-Eurovision mobilisations, raised concerns about disproportionate force. Journalists are also facing increased pressure, from legal threats to politically charged dismissals and detentions.
Across all these countries, there is structural and accelerating pattern of restricting civic space and fundamental rights on the pretext of public order and security narratives. The CIVICUS Monitor downgrades raise serious concerns about the delegitimisation of CSOs, portraying public watchdogs as threats and the rising political interference in independent civil society, as well as restrictions on the right to protest. These trends threaten the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights across the EU and its neighbourhood.