INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Shaping democratic renewal: civic space and the path to
a New Democratic Pact for Europe 


  2 - 3 February 2026 Strasbourg, France (Palais de l'Europe, Room 1)


 

 About the Conference

At the 2023 Reykjavík Summit, Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe adopted the landmark Reykjavík Principles for Democracy, setting out a common vision of the key elements of a functioning democracy. These Principles underscore the vital role of civil society in upholding democratic values and safeguarding fundamental freedoms across Europe.

The 2025 Report of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Towards a New Democratic Pact for Europe, highlights the urgency of protecting civic space as a cornerstone of democratic renewal. It calls for stronger cooperation among member states, international organisations, and civil society to reverse current trends and reinforce democratic institutions.

In response, the process leading to the New Democratic Pact aims to revitalise democracy through innovation, institutional renewal, and civic empowerment. This high-level event will contribute to that effort by exploring how civic space can be strengthened at both national and international levels. It will showcase practical initiatives for monitoring civic space and inspire new approaches for civil society and member states to jointly advance the Pact and build a
more inclusive and resilient democratic future.

The conference will provide a strategic platform for reinforcing stakeholder commitment to developing and strengthening a coherent mechanism for monitoring and protecting civic space across Council of Europe member states. It will facilitate the exchange of best practices and the formulation of concrete proposals – including policy recommendations, collaborative frameworks, and pilot initiatives – aimed laying foundations for such a mechanism.

 Programme

Monday, 2 February 2026

14:00 - 14:10: Opening session
  • Introductory remarks by Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe 
14:10 - 14:30: Welcome and setting the scene
  • Introductory live poll 
  • Welcoming by Ambassador Daniela Cujbă, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Moldova to the Council of Europe, President of the Ministers’ Deputies 
  • Keynote address by Dr. Michael O'Flaherty, Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe
14:30 - 15:50: Session I: Taking stock – what is the state of civic space in Europe?

Objective: This session will present and discuss key findings, emerging trends, and lessons learned regarding the current state of civic space across Europe. Drawing on evidence and experiences from a diverse range of stakeholders, it will help identify critical gaps, vulnerabilities, and opportunities in civic space monitoring and protection. The session will set the stage for deeper exploration and strategic dialogue throughout the conference.

Moderator:

  • Tara Petrović, Civic Space Research Officer, CIVICUS

Speakers:

  • Andreas Accardo, Head of Unit, Institutional Cooperation and EU Charter, EU Agency for Fundamental Rights
  • Bartosz Cyran, Chief Coordinator for Cooperation with Social Partners, Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, Poland
  • Eszter Hartay, Program Director at the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) and member of the CINGO Expert Council on NGO Law
  • Michal Piško, Director, Transparency International Slovakia
15:50 - 16:20: Coffee Break
16:20 - 17:40: Session II: Monitoring civic space – learning from practice

Objective: Building on the insights from Session I, this session will explore current pilot initiatives and institutional practices aimed at monitoring and protecting civic space. It will highlight lessons learned, showcase innovative approaches, and identify opportunities for stronger collaboration between international organisations, member states, civil society and human rights defenders. The session will also serve as a platform for proposing new ideas and partnerships to enhance the effectiveness, sustainability and impact of civic space monitoring efforts.

Moderator:

  • David Milner, Head of the Human Rights Intergovernmental Co-operation Division, Council of Europe

Speakers:

  • Goran Forbici, Director, the Centre for Information, Cooperation and Development of NGOs (CNVOS), Slovenia
  • David Goessmann, Head of Open Governance Unit, Innovative, Digital and Open Government, OECD
  • Maria-Andriani Kostopoulou, President, Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO)
  • Aarti Narsee Senior Policy Officer & lead for Rule of Law advocacy, European Civic Forum (ECF)
18:00 - 19:30: Networking and reception
  • Welcoming remarks by Ambassador Vebjørn Heines, Permanent Representative of Norway to the Council of Europe and Chair of the Group of Friends to Promote Engagement with Civil Society within the Council of Europe, Palais de l'Europe, Salon Bleu Restaurant, ground floor

Tuesday, 3 February 2026

9:30 - 10:50: Session III: Legislative trends and civic space – navigating regulatory change

Objective: This session will explore the evolving landscape of legislative and regulatory measures impacting civic space, with a focus on laws governing transparency, accountability, and funding, including those involving foreign sources. Drawing on national and regional experiences, the discussion will focus on how civil society and institutional actors can respond to these developments. The session will highlight legal, policy, and advocacy approaches to mitigate risks, adapt to new requirements, and identify opportunities for coordinated, constructive, and rights-based engagement.

Moderator:

  • Eve Geddie, Director, European Institutions Office, Amnesty International

Speakers:

  • Giorgi Kldiashvili, Executive Director, Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), Georgia
  • Estelle Masse, Policy Officer, Fundamental Rights Policy Unit, DG Justice and Consumers, European Commission 
  • Ambassador Sini Paukkunen-Mykkänen, Permanent Representative of Finland to the Council of Europe
  • Daniel Simons, Senior Legal Counsel Strategic Defence, Greenpeace International
  • Tania Van Dijk, Legal Adviser, Venice Commission, Council of Europe
10:50 - 11:20: Coffee Break
11:20 - 12:20: Session IV: Digital civic space – innovation, inclusion, and protection

Objective: This session will explore how digital technologies are reshaping civic space and creating new opportunities for participation while also introducing risks such as surveillance, disinformation, and exclusion – risks that must be carefully addressed in monitoring and protection efforts. At the same time, digital tools hold significant potential for more inclusive civic engagement, and promising practices are emerging in this field. The session will explore new dimensions of digital civic space and discuss how the Council of Europe can strengthen its support through policy guidance and cooperation.

Moderator:

  • Joanna Szymańska, Head of Programmes and Strategy for Europe, Article 19

Speakers:

  • Pavel Antonov, Co-founder and Executive Editor, BlueLink Foundation
  • Giulia Lucchese, Co-Secretary CDMSI, Council of Europe
  • Claudia Luciani, Director, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities 
  • Alexis Prokopiev, Vice-President of Civic Tech Europe (ACTE)
12:20 - 14:00: Lunch Break
14:00 - 15:20: Session V: Civic space at a crossroads – charting strategic pathways forward

Objective: This session will synthesise key insights from the conference and provide a platform for diverse actors – across institutional, academic, and grassroots sectors – to identify strategic directions and actionable recommendations. These reflections will inform the conference key takeaways and guide future Council of Europe initiatives to strengthen civic space across Europe.

Moderator:

  • Anna Sevortian, Member of the Standing Committee of the Conference of INGOs

Speakers:

  • Ambassador Caitríona Doyle, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the Council of Europe and Chair of the Rapporteur Group on Democracy (GR-DEM)
  • Dave Elseroad, Head of Advocacy and Geneva Office, Human Rights House Foundation 
  • Tom Matthew, Board Member, European Youth Forum
  • Seema Shah, Head of Democracy Assessment Unit, International IDEA
  • Niklas Wilhelmsson, Head of Democracy and Elections Unit, Ministry of Justice, Finland, and Vice-Chair of the Steering Committee on Democracy (CDDEM)
15:20 - 15:50: Coffee Break
15:50 - 16:50: Closing Session: From insight to impact – advancing Council of Europe action on civic space

Objective: The closing session will consolidate the key outcomes of the conference and translate these into concrete next steps. The session will also summarise strategic opportunities for the Council of Europe to strengthen its role in protecting and expanding civic space and invite further dialogue and reflections from diverse stakeholders.

Moderator:

  • Matjaž Gruden, Director for Democracy, Council of Europe

Speakers:

  • Astrid Bergmål, State Secretary for Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway
  • Antoine Buyse, Professor of Human Rights from a multidisciplinary perspective and Director of the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM): Presentation of the key takeaways
  • Anu Juvonen, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Civil Society

Closing Reflections and Next steps by the moderator

16:50 - 17:00: Group photo

 Reference documents

      Programme of the conference

      Concept note

      Report of the conference

 Practical information

  • The conference will feature moderated panel discussions with diverse speakers from civil society, member states, and international organisations.
  • Each panel will include structured opportunities for audience engagement, such as Q&A sessions, live polling, and facilitated dialogue segments to encourage active participation, foster dynamic exchange and generate concrete ideas.
  • The event will take place in English and French, with interpretation provided, and will be live-streamed.
  • An accompanying programme will include an exhibition space for materials and a civic space resource table showcasing reports, standards, case law, and tools.
  • Financial support from the Council of Europe is no longer possible, as the budget has been fully allocated.

Map and access to the Council of Europe - The Council of Europe in brief

 Speakers (alphabetical order) 

Back David Milner, Secretary to the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH)

Milner
David Milner, Secretary to the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH)

David is the Secretary to the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH), an intergovernmental committee working under the authority of the Committee of Ministers on issues relating to the functioning of the system of the European Convention on Human Rights and the development of European human rights standards and policy. The CDDH has a long history of collaboration with civil society and was responsible for drafting the 2018 Committee of Ministers recommendation, as well as a recent report on its implementation. As Head of the Human Rights Intergovernmental Co-operation Division, David also oversees the Council of Europe’s work on access to official documents, through the work of the Tromsø Convention monitoring bodies. 

David previously worked in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Before coming to the Council of Europe, he trained as a barrister and worked for NGOs in London representing asylum seekers.
 

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