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Thriving Civic Space for Strong European Democracy’ for the people | for the planet | for the future thriving civic for strong European space democracy Friends of the Earth Europe “If space exists for civil society to engage, there is a greater likelihood that all rights will be better protected. Conversely, the closing of civil society space, and threats and reprisals against civil society activists, are early warning signs of instability. ” Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Friends of the Earth Europe’s grassroots governments, institutions and corporations network in 32 countries is proud of its place to account, put forward community-powered in European civil society. We help bring solutions, and defend the planet which people’s voices to decision-making, hold cannot speak for itself. friends of the earth europe Civic space Friends of the Earth Europe 16 member groups have experienced shrinking civic space in their country. The most common form of shrinking space reported in our network is Stigmatization and negative labeling (13 countries). But members of our network say they have experienced all of the most common recognized forms of shrinking space.* 13 10 9 8 5 countries countries countries countries countries Stigmatization Administrative Criminalization Participation Physical & negative restrictions through under harassment labeling & undue state prosecution pressure & intimidation interference & investigation “This [shrinking space] is a dangerous trend and has implications for the future of European democracy if it continues.” JAGODA MUNIĆ, DIRECTOR, IN HUFFINGTON POST * Based on the model of different types of pressure that civil society actors can face, by Van der Borgh and Terwindt, 2014. FRIENDS OF THE EARTH EUROPE | 2 case studies slovenia Stigmatization & negative labeling Friends of the Earth Slovenia / FOCUS NGOs raised the alarm. Subsequently The defamation campaign culminated have witnessed environmental FOCUS and other NGOs were invited in a protest in front of FOCUS’ office legislation increasingly being portrayed to join the process of granting in Ljubljana blaming NGOs for blocking as an obstacle to economic development environmental consent for the project. the investment. At the same time, in the country. FOCUS received support and thank you When they voiced concerns – around land messages from people living near the When the government bypassed use and air pollution – they became the planned plant. The NGOs succeeded in the normal environmental impact target of a smear campaign. They received winning improvements to the planned assessment process to push through anonymous letters and e-mails, were plant. For example Magna International a new car-painting plant, backed by attacked on social media, and media agreed to mitigate air pollution by the Canada-based company Magna outlets began to report on the case with transporting as much as possible by rail International, near the city of Maribor, an unprecedented anti-NGO bias. instead of by road. “As environmental NGOs in Slovenia we felt obliged to expose possible environmental threats in the case of Magna Steyr’s proposed factory near Maribor. However, we were pressured, discredited and assaulted in the media, as well as through direct actions.” TOMISLAV TKALEC, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH SLOVENIA / FOCUS CZECH REPUBLIC Administrative restrictions & undue state interference In 2018 Friends of the Earth Czech prohibiting Hnutí DUHA from initiating “We could not accept such Republic / Hnutí DUHA was awarded a any petitions towards the ministry conditions because we are an independent NGO. our positions grant by the Czech Ministry of concerning zero-waste lifestyles. This and campaigns are not dependent Environment for work to promote zero- would have made it very difficult for on state or corporate power.” waste lifestyles. The ministry attached Hnutí DUHA to continue its pre-existing JIŘÍ KOŽELOUH, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH conditions to the grant which had not campaign against polluting incinerators. CZECH REPUBLIC / Hnutí DUHA been announced during the call for In light of the conditions imposed, Hnutí proposals. These conditions were not DUHA decided to refuse the grant. applied to other grantees. They included FRIENDS OF THE EARTH EUROPE | 3 Croatia Criminalization through prosecution 84% & investigation of local Friends of the Earth Croatia / Zelena residents who voted opposed Akcija has, since 2010, been closely the project. following plans for a golf resort in the city of Dubrovnik. In cooperation with a local citizens’ initiative, they have raised awareness of the negative environmental impacts of the planned resort, and unmasked potential corruption related to the project. In a 2013 referendum organised by the initiative, 84% of local residents who voted said they were against the plan. The campaign against the golf resort won three court rulings against permits for the project. In 2017 the project investor filed a claim against the Republic of Croatia with a private, international arbitration tribunal, seeking 500 million US dollars in damages due to these court rulings. Within a matter of weeks after the claim was filed, permits identical to ones annulled by the courts were re-issued. Zelena Akcija called this racketeering. Now Zelena Akcija is being sued by the A local referendum on plans for a golf resort in Dubrovnik. investor. The investor is seeking the © FoE Croatia prosecution of, and penalties for, Zelena Akcija’s management, as well as damages and a gagging order which would prevent Zelena Akcija from speaking publicly “This is part of a global phenomenon where the space for civil about the project. Losing the lawsuit society is being reduced, especially for those who are most would force Zelena Akciija to pay fines, critical of the current neoliberal economic system.” fees and interest capable of shutting the ENES CERIMAGIC, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH CROATIA / ZELENA AKCIJA organisation down. FRIENDS OF THE EARTH EUROPE | 4 “We expect a continuation of attacks on civil space austria in Austria in the coming years.” REINHARD UHRIG, Participation under pressure HEAD OF CAMPAIGNS, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH AUSTRIA / GLOBAL 2000 The 2017 Conservative-Freedom Party The government proposed that all The government proposed further legal coalition brought a number of direct organisations wishing to participate in EIA changes which would have seen big attacks to Friends of the Earth Austria / processes first prove they have at least infrastructure projects subject to EIAs Global 2000, and Austrian civil 100 individual members - and they do this automatically approved after 12 months. society’s, work. by supplying the names and addresses of This was also heavily criticised by NGOs these persons to the ministries of the and legal experts. The government From the start members of the environment and economics. After a changed the proposal so that projects are governing parties used tactics to fierce, public debate on this clear breach automatically transferred to the next delegitimise critics. This culminated of data protection rules, legislation was legal stage of the approval process in 2018 in changes to Environmental passed which forces organisations to – a decision for which the European Impact Assessment (EIA) legislation. supply 100 names and addresses of Commission has started infringement members to a solicitor. proceedings against Austria. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA The brave women of Krušcica. Physical harassment & intimidation © Andrew Burr Krušcice is one of multiple villages in ‘brave women of Krušcica’. They had not Bosnia-Herzegovina where residents have been environmental campaigners been resisting hydropower developments, beforehand, but stood up to stop the supported by Friends of the Earth Bosnia destruction of their natural resources & Herzegovina / Center for Environment. after the local government planned and approved the project in secret. Two controversial proposed dams would bring significant damage to the Despite the violent clampdown, the surrounding natural environment and villagers went to on block construction the village’s drinking water. work for over 500 days. Center for “The women of Kruščica are Environment supported them exceptionally brave, not only Krušcice residents had been peacefully throughout by providing legal, technical preventing bulldozers from protesting for a month when, in August destroying their nature and and moral support. 2017, riot police violently removed them, resources but also withstanding seriously injuring several people. The In December 2018 the regional court attacks from the police. Their protestors neither provoked nor resisted upheld the villagers’ objections to the amazing vigil has prevented the police but were nevertheless forcibly dams, ruling that residents had not been greedy developers from removed to allow construction adequately informed of and involved in destroying their river.” Natasa Crnkovic, President, Friends of equipment to pass. The protestors, the decision-making procedures. the Earth Bosnia / Center for Environment mostly women, became known as the FRIENDS OF THE EARTH EUROPE | 5 friends of the earth europe Civic space ‘Thriving civic space for strong European democracy’ Every day across Europe people take action to protect things they care about, and to improve their lives and the lives of others and our shared environment. From meeting their elected representatives, to writing letters and signing petitions, through volunteering and participating in community groups and initiatives, to protesting
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