Civic Space in Europe and Bulgaria in 2024: Alarming Trends and Resilient Responses

Теодора Иванова
Jul 3
8 min read

In 2024, civic space in Bulgaria remains in the "narrowed" category, according to the report by the European Civic Forum. This means that despite the formal freedom of association and expression, civil society organizations and activists face serious obstacles in their work. Impact Drive prepared this article based on the European Civic Forum report and the analysis for Bulgaria by Zahari Yankov of the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL).

Why is Civic Space an Important Topic Today?

Civic space is the sum of conditions in which people can freely and safely associate, express themselves, and assemble in order to engage with public life. It is not merely a legal construct, but a real dimension of democratic life, an indicator of the extent to which a state respects the fundamental rights of its citizens and contributes to sustainable and equitable social development.

In this context, the "Civic Space Report 2025," published by the European Civic Forum (ECF), represents one of the most important studies on the state of civic freedoms in Europe. The report analyzes both horizontal (supranational) trends and the situation in 15 EU member states and in the Western Balkans. Titled "Towards a Vibrant, Supportive and Inclusive Civic Space in Europe," the analysis is at once alarming and inspiring.

Europe in 2024: Overall Contraction, Growing Risk

No country with "open civic space"

For the first time in the history of the analysis, not one of the countries studied falls into the highest category of "open civic space." This is a telling indicator of the systemic erosion of civic freedoms, even in countries with stable democratic traditions.

60% of countries have "narrowed" or "obstructed" space

The report shows that nearly two thirds of EU member states fall into categories that imply:

Restrictions on the exercise of freedom of assembly;
Repression or attacks against organizations and activists;
A hostile legislative and media environment.

Horizontal threats:

Legal and institutional barriers: expansion of legal requirements for NGOs; introduction of new registers, declaration obligations, and reporting requirements.
Stigmatization of NGOs: accusations that human rights defenders are "traitors," "foreign agents," or "anti-state elements."
Violence and threats: physical and verbal attacks, especially against environmental activists, LGBTI+ advocates, and women (and/or gender equality activists) in public life.
Political instrumentalization of funding: access to public resources is used as a tool for political control.

Main conclusion of the report:

"The narrowing of civic space is not an isolated phenomenon, but a systemic effect of democratic erosion and authoritarian tendencies, reinforced by crises, populism, and institutional inertia." (European Civic Forum, 2025)

Bulgaria in 2024: Between Institutional Neglect and Deliberate Delegitimization

According to the methodology of the European Civic Forum, Bulgaria in 2024 continues to fall into the category of "narrowed civic space." This means that despite the existence of a legal framework that formally guarantees the fundamental freedoms of association, expression, and assembly, in practice civil society organizations frequently operate under conditions of uncertainty, institutional neglect, and public pressure.

Behind this assessment lie specific events and processes that clearly outline the challenges facing the sector over the past year. The analysis prepared by Zahari Yankov of the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL) traces precisely these dynamics and offers a clear view of the reality in which civil society organizations in Bulgaria operate.

1. The "Foreign Agents" Bill: A Repressive Measure in the Shadows

One of the most concerning developments over the past year was the submission to parliament of a bill providing for the registration of NGOs as "organizations with foreign support."

The main parameters of the bill were:

Organizations receiving more than 1,000 BGN annually from foreign sources would be subject to separate registration;
All public communications by these organizations would need to be marked with a special designation;
Sanctions and administrative burdens were envisaged for non-compliance with the requirements.

Reactions and risks:

The bill was sharply criticized by NGOs, international organizations, and part of the media sector as an anti-democratic measure similar to existing laws in Russia and Hungary;
Although it was not adopted by the end of 2024, the absence of a categorical rejection by the institutions leaves the bill as a lingering threat, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty among organizations;
The goal is clear: to discredit organizations through labeling and isolation from public debate.

The proposed bill represents a serious step backward from what has been achieved since 1989, threatening one of the foundational democratic rights, namely freedom of association. The stigmatization of organizations that receive support from international sources not only restricts civic activity but also undermines the foundations of pluralism and democratic participation.

2. The Right to Assembly and Expression: Discriminatory and Selective Repression

Although Bulgaria's legislation guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, in 2024 there were specific instances of restriction and pressure directed at vulnerable groups and inconvenient causes. Some examples:

Bans on pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Sofia, justified by "threats to public order" without any evidence presented;
Interventions at events organized by LGBTI+ organizations, including restricted access to public spaces, heavy police presence, and verbal aggression from institutions;
Selective application of the law, with some protests permitted without issue while others were stopped on grounds of "prevention," demonstrating double standards.

What the effect of this is:

The sense grows that some causes are unwanted by the authorities, regardless of their legitimacy;
Citizens self-censor their participation, especially on "sensitive" topics;
Trust in institutional neutrality and the rule of law is damaged.

3. Dialogue on Pause: The Blocked Functioning of Structures for Interaction Between the State and Civil Society Organizations

Dialogue between the state and civil society either does not happen or is obstructed through administrative procedures

The Council for the Development of Civil Society has not held a single effective meeting with concrete outcomes;
Participation in the newly established "National Council for the Prevention and Protection from Domestic Violence" under the Council of Ministers is obstructed by administrative barriers (organizations participating in it lose their right to funding from the mechanism) and by short application deadlines (1 week), accompanied by a lack of any outreach campaign;
In 2024, there was no procedure for creating a civic council under the Parliamentary Committee for Direct Civic Participation and Interaction with Civil Society;
Strategic documents that have been adopted remain without any real effect on policies or funding for civil society organizations.

The effect of this:

The bodies mentioned are conceived as tools for partnership, but in practice become a facade for the sector's nominal inclusion;
Many organizations lose faith that their voice will be heard, even when they officially participate in consultation processes;
This contributes to the delegitimization of civic participation.

Financial Pressure and Organizational Uncertainty

Civil society organizations in Bulgaria traditionally rely primarily on projects funded by external donors, whether European, international, or private. The BCNL report emphasizes that public support from the state remains symbolic, unpredictable, and often merely formal.

Specific difficulties:

There is no mechanism for institutional funding, meaning for covering basic organizational costs such as salaries, rent, management, and development;
National NGO funding programs are limited in scope and accessibility, often tied to narrow political content or administrative pressure;
Competition for European funds requires high levels of expertise and is highly competitive. Smaller or regional NGOs lack the resources to participate effectively.

Consequences:

A short-term, project-based model of existence that hinders strategic development;
Exhaustion and burnout of human resources in the sector;
Isolation of smaller or informal organizations that lack access to the resources needed for application, implementation, and reporting.

Many civil society organizations in Bulgaria function at the edge of their capacity. Instead of developing sustainable visions and strategic solutions, they are forced to contend with administrative obstacles, difficult funding procedures, and coordinated reputational attacks. This creates a climate of uncertainty and limits their role as drivers of democracy and social change.

Conclusions and Recommendations: How to Protect and Develop Civic Space?

1. Civic space needs active protection, not just laws

As the horizontal analysis by the European Civic Forum shows, the narrowing of civic freedoms is not the result of uniform legislative reforms, but of cultural, institutional, and political hostility toward active citizens.

Laws alone do not guarantee space for participation. What is needed is active attention to the quality of dialogue, to the transparency and accountability of institutions, and to the access of everyone to political and social processes.

Bulgaria demonstrates precisely this type of "post-democratic" restriction: laws exist, but the functioning mechanisms for real participation are either paralyzed (as with the Council for Civil Society) or under threat (through bills such as the one on "foreign agents").

2. Unequal access to resources leads to an unequal voice

Financial barriers are less visible than state pressure, but are equally effective in restricting civic participation.

In the context of:

administratively complex schemes,
a lack of institutional funding,
political will that does not recognize NGOs as an equal partner,

organizations are forced to fragment, isolate, and fight for survival.

Here lies one of the greatest dangers for democracy: when people see that only the "convenient" have access to resources and a platform, trust in the public sphere breaks down.

3. A new social contract between institutions and the civil sector is needed

NGOs are not simply "service providers" or "outside observers" - they are legitimate participants in governance, advocates for rights, innovators in the social sphere, and intermediaries between the state and the people.

Impact Drive, like many other organizations, works daily in an environment of high uncertainty. Nevertheless, our practice shows that sustainability can be achieved through:

investment in organizational capacity,
building leadership skills,
encouraging networks and shared practices,
empowerment through digital technologies and smart advocacy.

Our Commitment

In conditions of limited access to resources, institutional uncertainty, and the absence of sustainable support mechanisms, civil society organizations need not only funding, but also like-minded partners who can support them in building capacity, resilience, and confidence.

In this context, Impact Drive is establishing itself as the organization that provides integrated support for the organizational development of NGOs, beyond project cycles and short-term solutions. Our philosophy is that change does not come from the top, but from collaboration, mutual learning, and the ability to act with confidence even in a challenging environment.

The main areas of our work include:

Organizational development and strategic thinking through methodologies such as "Theory of Change," agile approaches, and a focus on social impact
Fundraising and financial sustainability by working with organizations to:
- Build sustainable income models, including donations, services, partnerships, and crowdfunding;
- Develop strategic fundraising skills, from project writing to building relationships with donors;
- Plan not just for the next project, but for their future as a driver of social change.
Leadership, advocacy, and networks through comprehensive programs aimed at women in the civil sector and trainings for young activists;
Development of advocacy capacity with the help of digital tools, including AI;
Connection with European and regional networks through partnerships in programs such as Erasmus+, CERV, and EEA Grants;
Open resources, including free guides on key topics, webinars, and online trainings.

The report by the European Civic Forum and the analysis by the BCNL make it clear: democracy is not a given. It is maintained through active citizens, free voices, and organizational resilience.

Civic space is the foundation of every free society, and we should protect, develop, and respect it just as we would defend freedom of thought, of conscience, or of the vote.

If you are part of a civil society organization, group, or network and wish to strengthen your capacity, get in touch with us at: impactdrive.eu/ngoservices

We are also attaching the original reports by the European Civic Forum (ECF) on Europe and Bulgaria in particular (in English).