The Civil Society Development Foundation signals, through an alert published in the second Civic Space Watch Alerts Roundup, part of the Early Warning and Alert System (EWAS) developed under the MACS (Monitoring Action for Civic Space) project. This European initiative aims to monitor and rapidly highlight trends affecting civic space, in a context where non-governmental organizations, activists, and human rights defenders face increasing pressures and restrictions.

This alert emerges in a European context characterized by growing pressure on civil society, as reflected in the Civic Space Report 2025, which outlines the trends of shrinking civic freedoms, the rise of extremist rhetoric, and the challenges faced by non-governmental organizations and human rights defenders.

CSDF alert

Romania’s government is proposing a new Administrative Procedural Code that would classify CSOs, including independent media outlets registered as CSOs, as entities subject to the Freedom of Information Act. This means CSOs would have a legal obligation to respond to public information requests, similarly to state institutions. The new Administrative Procedural Code seeks to unify all administrative norms currently across several pieces of legislation into one single code. This process would allow for a thorough reform of how public entities work and simplify and bring more clarity for all stakeholders engaging with the state. However, by including CSOs as “obliged subjects” under the freedom of information framework, the draft law goes beyond mere reform of procedural norms.

The draft code, initiated by the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration, also discriminates between different types of private entities, as only associations and foundations are included in the list of mandatory entities, with for-profit entities excluded. The draft was published in a public consultation in February 2025, and a public debate took place on 12 March. Several CSOs participated in the public debate, but most of their proposals for amendments have been rejected.

If adopted, the new code could have serious negative consequences for civic space. Making CSOs responsible for providing access to information gathered or stored about their work could distort their role, place an extra burden on them and use up scarce resources. Additionally, some CSOs working with vulnerable groups manage information from the groups that might be harmful to publicise. The draft law does not yet specify what the sanctions for non-compliance would be, but there is a serious risk that any penalties imposed could be used to harass or intimidate CSOs, particularly those working on topics such as anti-corruption, human rights, minority rights, strategic litigation, and investigative journalism. The law could therefore become a tool for political interference and pressure.

The legal and administrative burdens to respond to information requests introduced by the law could also discourage civic participation by making it harder for people to organise or join associations.

 Civic Space Watch Alerts Roundups?

Space Watch Alerts Roundup is a periodic summary of the latest developments regarding civic space in Europe, based on the Early Warning Alert System (EWAS) developed under the MACS – Monitoring Action for Civic Space project. At a time when civic freedoms are shrinking, these alerts highlight situations and trends that require immediate action from decision-makers in order to protect democracy and the right of civil society to organize and express itself freely.

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The MACS: Monitoring Action for Civic Space project is co-funded by the European Union.
It is implemented by the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law, European Civic Forum, Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law, Foreningen Nyt Europa, Le Mouvement associatif, Okotars Alapitvany, Stichting Nederlands Helsinki Comite, Ogolnopolska Federacja Organizacji Pozarzadowych, Fundația pentru Dezvoltarea Societății Civile.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

• The Civil Society Development Foundation (FDSC) announces the launch of a new “În Stare să Ajut” call for projects, part of the “În Stare de Bine” program—one of the largest privately funded annual programs in Romania—implemented with the support of Kaufland.
• The call, titled “The Generation that Feels Everything”, aims to fund projects submitted by NGOs that address the emotional health of teenagers aged 12 to 18 from rural and small urban areas (with fewer than 50,000 inhabitants).
• The total budget for the call is 2,050,000 lei, and eligible organizations can apply for funding between 50,000 and 175,000 lei per project. The implementation period for selected projects will range from 4 to 6 months.
• Projects can be submitted via the platform instaredebine.ro between July 14 and 18, 2025.

The Civil Society Development Foundation (FDSC) announces the launch of a new “În Stare să Ajut” call for projects, part of the “În Stare de Bine” program—one of the largest privately funded annual programs in Romania—implemented with the support of Kaufland.

The 2025 “În Stare să Ajut” call, titled The Generation that Feels Everything, supports NGO-led projects that address the emotional health of adolescents. This is the third edition of the call dedicated to youth and remains one of the few private funding initiatives in Romania that specifically focuses on teenagers’ emotional health.

Over 2 Million Lei for Activities that Support Teengers’ Emotional Health

The specific objective of the 2025 call is to support the emotional well-being of teenagers aged 12–18 in rural and small urban areas (with a population under 50.000), who face heightened social and economic risks, limited access to mental health services and emotional education, and are underserved by existing programs.

The call aims to fund interventions that create and strengthen safe spaces for teenagers, build emotional resilience, prevent risky behaviors, improve quality of life and well-being, and establish local support groups, among others.

The call’s total budget, exclusively funded by Kaufland, is 2.050.000 lei. Eligible organizations can apply for grants between 50,000 and 175,000 lei. Projects should last between 4 and 6 months.

“Projects that support the emotional health of teenagers are more than isolated interventions—they are direct investments in the future of our society. Through the 2025 În Stare să Ajut call, we aim to support teenagers in the most vulnerable environments, where the lack of emotional support and appropriate education can deeply impact their development. We believe today’s teenagers, if properly supported, can become tomorrow’s adults who not only manage their own emotions but also contribute to the well-being of their communities. Through the În Stare de Bine program, we are proud to transform care for youth into real and lasting solutions,” said Katharina Scheidereiter, CSR Manager, Kaufland Romania.

Main Challenges Facing Romanian Teenagers: (Cyber)bullying, Social Media Addiction, Substance Use

Many young people in Romania experience adolescence while facing vulnerabilities such as lack of family support, social pressures, and socioeconomic hardships. Teenagers from single-parent or disadvantaged families are particularly affected, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further intensified existing emotional challenges.

According to a 2018 World Health Organization study, as teenagers grow older, they perceive less support from parents, teachers, and peers, leading to lower life satisfaction and worsening emotional health, especially among girls aged 11–15.

A 2023 report from the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies highlights that Romania’s mental health services remain underdeveloped. Many teenagers suffer from increased levels of anxiety, depression, and emotional stress, exacerbated by prolonged isolation and disrupted social lives during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The key challenges Romanian teenagers face today include bullying and cyberbullying, social media addiction, human trafficking, lack of information on relational and reproductive health, and substance and alcohol use.

“The need for a special call dedicated to adolescents came naturally, in response to their increasing vulnerability—especially in rural and small urban areas, where emotional support is scarce and teenagers are often invisible to public policies. Through ‘În Stare să Ajut – The Generation that Feels Everything,’ we are continuing interventions launched in 2023 and 2024, with a strong focus on emotional health and the prevention of real risks such as bullying, substance abuse, trafficking, social media dependence, and the lack of relational education,” said Laura Cireașă, Program Coordinator, În Stare de Bine, FDSC.

What Types of Projects Are Eligible?

The call particularly targets projects addressing adolescents from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds facing emotional health issues. Eligible applicants include Romanian NGOs: associations, foundations or federations, the Romanian Red Cross and its legally recognized branches, as well as County and Bucharest Youth Foundations and the National Youth Foundation.

Examples of eligible proposals include interventions that help teenagers recognize, express, and regulate emotions, manage conflicts, develop communication and group cohesion skills, engage in sports-based social skill development, prevent human trafficking, combat social media addiction, address substance use, and provide sex education and relational health information.

All funded activities must take place in Romania.

Timeline for the 2025 “În Stare să Ajut” Funding Call

• June 17 – Call launch
• July 4 – Information session for NGOs
• July 14–18 – Project submission period
• August 12 – Announcement of selected projects
• September 15 – March 15 – Project implementation period

Mini-Grants: Creștem ONG-uri

In addition to the “În Stare să Ajut” call, a separate Creștem ONG-uri call will be launched at the end of August, offering mini-grants focused on supporting the organizational health of NGOs, particularly strategic planning processes. The total budget is 150,000 lei. Details will be announced upon launch.

For more information on the timeline, eligibility, application, and evaluation process, visit https://instaredebine.ro/apel-de-proiecte-2025-in-stare-sa-ajut.

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About În Stare de Bine

The “În Stare de Bine” grant program for NGOs is fully funded by Kaufland Romania, with an annual budget of 1 million euros. Its main goal is to reduce social inequalities through cultural, sports, and healthy lifestyle activities for vulnerable groups and communities, while also supporting organizational development initiatives within Romania’s nonprofit sector.

The program is implemented by FDSC and runs annually through two or three project calls, based on identified needs. More information is available at https://instaredebine.ro/campanie-6-ani.

 About Kaufland

Kaufland is one of the largest retail companies in Europe, with over 1,550 stores in 8 countries, more than 155,000 employees, and 190 stores currently operating in Romania.

Environmental and social responsibility are core principles of Kaufland’s corporate policy. The company believes that everyone’s involvement can make the world a better place. In 2018, Kaufland launched the platform “Involvement Makes the Difference”, under which all CSR initiatives are communicated. Most CSR projects are conducted in partnership with regional or national NGOs and aim to implement comprehensive social programs for large groups of beneficiaries.

For more details, visit www.kaufland.ro or contact: presa@kaufland.ro.