EFA Member Webinar on Shrinking Space for Civil Society

1 July 2025 at 14:00-15:00 CEST

 
Aim

This webinar, organised for EFA members under the Chatham House Rule, aims to inform participants about developments across Europe relating to the shrinking space for civil society. It will also explore potential responses from civil society actors, particularly funders and fundraisers. We will also briefly consider how to promote positive narratives about NGOs and civil society.
 
Guests

  • Peggy Pascal, La Cause Consulting
  • Eszter Hartay, European Center for Not-for-Profit Law
  • Esther Meester, European Center for Not-for-Profit Law

 
Hosts

  • Laurence Lepetit – EFA Board and Public Affairs Committee Member
  • Eduard Marček – EFA Executive Director

 
Program (all times CEST)

14:00 Welcome
(Eduard Marček)
14:02 Introduction of the topic and the Fundraising4Democracy initiative
(Laurence Lepetit)
14:05 Main results of the benchmark on civic space restrictions in Europe
Similarities, lessons learnt (Peggy Pascal, Eszter Hartay, Esther Meester)
14:25 How civil society responds, ways forward
(Peggy Pascal, Eszter Hartay, Esther Meester)
14:40 Questions and answers
15:00
Next steps of EFA Fundraising4Democracy
(Eduard Marček)

 
Profiles

 

Peggy Pascal
(La CAUSE)

Peggy is a recognised expert in the associative and international solidarity sectors with over twenty-five years’ experience. Having trained as an agronomist, she has managed and led teams in France and abroad, particularly in Afghanistan. She has held key governance positions on the boards of Solidarités International and Coordination Sud, and is currently president of Groupe URD. Throughout her career, she has conducted research, evaluations and training that have helped to improve associative practices. For over a year, Peggy Pascal has focused particularly on associative freedoms in France and Europe, conducting various studies on this subject. She co-founded the La CAUSE collective, which aims to strengthen the influence of the associative sector through studies, evaluations and bespoke training programmes.

  

Eszter Hartay
(ECNL)

Eszter is a Programme Director at ECNL, with 15 years’ experience of creating an enabling legal environment for civil society. She has worked in over 16 countries across the EU, the Western Balkans, the Eastern Partnership and the MENA regions, Central Asia and Latin America. She has led and supported efforts in areas such as CSO framework legislation, CSO–government cooperation, participation in policymaking, financial sustainability, climate action, and anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing. She currently oversees ECNL’s portfolio on philanthropy and public participation. Eszter is also a member of the Expert Council on NGO Law within the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe.

  

Esther Meester
(ECNL)

Esther is a Senior Legal Advisor at the European Centre for Not-for-Profit Law, specialising in freedom of association and participation rights. Philanthropy and fundraising are among her key areas of focus. She provides legal and policy advice, monitors new developments and supports partners in promoting a more enabling operating environment for civil society. Before joining ECNL, Esther worked in development cooperation, managing multi-annual projects focused on strengthening civil society organisations and contributing to enabling regulatory and policy frameworks.

 

 

#Fundraising4Democracy