The Conference of International NGOs (CINGO) held its Autumn Session on 13-16 October with a special item on civic space and problematic developments in several member States related to foreign agent legislations, administrative burdens, as well as situations of abusive proceedings, harassment and retaliatory action affecting civil society organisations and activists – even for their participation in Council of Europe activities.
Exchanges of views were held with Ambassador Caitriona Doyle (Chair of the Rapporteur Group on Democracy - GR-DEM) and Ambassador Vebjørn Heines (Vice-Chair of the Steering Committee on Democracy - CDDEM), notably on the New Democratic Pact, the revision of Recommendation CM/Rec(2007)14 on the legal status of NGOs in Europe and the finalisation of the Parameters to support the implementation of the Reykjavik Principles for Democracy. The newly established “Friends of Civil Society” group, gathering 15 countries committed to actively support engagement with civil society, was presented and further discussed at a reception hosted by the Permanent Representation of Austria. Ambassador Daniela Cujbă, presented the Moldovan priorities for the upcoming Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers.
CINGO also adopted the following texts addressed to the Council of Europe and its member States:
- Statement on “The human cost of war: a call for peace and protection in Gaza”;
- Recommendation “For a permanent Platform for Ongoing Interreligious and Interconvictional Dialogue within the Council of Europe”;
- Recommendation on “State Accountability in the Provision of Housing for People on the Move, Refugees and Asylum Seekers – A fundamental matter of respect of human rights”;
- Recommendation on “Access to sport for all as a recognised fundamental right.
CINGO also heard reports on current work concerning the thematic committees, the task Force on Civic space, the Youth strategy as well as the Expert Council on NGO Law which included the preparation of a new study on recent national developments that actually or potentially undermine the ability of NGOs to operate (with a call for contributions by 30 November 2025).
The documents adopted and the abridged report of the session are all published on the webpage of the Autumn session.
