Shrinking civic space and civil society organizations in Europe. A focus on Greece.

The concept of civil society is a topic of considerable debate in the academic literature. The diversity of actors involved in its formation and the lengthy period over which it has evolved renders it a highly intricate phenomenon. Across the globe, activists, human rights defenders, journalists and organizations contend with a range of challenges from governments that persistently jeopardize their freedom of expression and operational autonomy. This research project aims to investigate the underlying causes and mechanisms through which civic space, understood as the enabling environment that facilitates the functioning of civil society, is restricted. The issue has evolved from isolated incidents to a pervasive and escalating phenomenon: the shrinking civic space. After a conceptual framework and an analysis of the global trend of the phenomenon, the thesis examines the complex interplay between civil society organizations and governmental structures within the context of contemporary challenges facing civic space across Europe, with a particular emphasis on Greece. Even though the importance of a vibrant civil society has been widely acknowledged by the international community, the responses adopted by the United Nations and the European Union have been inadequate. Civil society organizations continue to face significant limitations, both in terms of legal and political measures, as well as through a range of threats, violent attacks and forms of intimidation by state actors, even in states with democratic structures. This trend in Europe is exemplified by the cases of Poland, Hungary and Germany. To illustrate, Poland has the highest number of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation in the EU. Specific attention is directed towards the role of civil society organizations in providing support to migrants and asylum seekers, particularly considering the concerning increase in policies that criminalize solidarity. Since the 2015 economic crisis, Greece has witnessed a notable surge in arrivals and the emergence of organizations that have denounced the government's immigration management policies. The European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe have on numerous occasions articulated their concern regarding the legislative framework governing the registration of migrant reception organizations, on the grounds that it is deemed to be inconsistent with international standards. In order to respond to the research question, the existing literature was taken into account, as well as the annual reports prepared by organizations such as Civicus, Amnesty International and Civic Space Watch. In addition, information was gathered in Greece with the organization La Luna di Vasilika.