On October 21st, 2026, the second edition of the Rule of Law Forum in Bucharest brought together representatives from European institutions and civil society across Romania, Poland, Hungary, and Slovenia. The discussion centered on the vital role of civil society in safeguarding the rule of law and the mechanisms required to prevent the arbitrary abuse of power.

The session, titled “Civil Society Ecosystems for the Rule of Law: Regional Tools and Practices,” highlighted national contexts, European instruments, and regional models for inter-organizational cooperation.

The article below, originally published by Știri.ong, captures the key takeaways and insights shared by the panel.

The rule of law, democracy and human rights are interdependent, sharing a common objective: to prevent the concentration of power and its arbitrary exercise.

This was the central premise of the discussion entitled “Civil Society Ecosystems for the Rule of Law”, held on the second day of the Rule of Law Forum. The 2026 edition was organised  in Romania by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Rule of Law Programme South East Europe, together with the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, in cooperation with the Civil Society Development Foundation (FDSC) and with the support of the EEA Civil Society Fund inRomania.

In its annual Rule of Law Reports, the European Commission has highlighted the importance of checks and balances, particularly the role of civil society, against the backdrop of a widespread deterioration in recent years.

Hungary, Poland and Slovenia have experienced, or are still experiencing, more acute versions of the challenges currently facing Romania. Leading civil society representatives from these countries spoke in Bucharest about their national experiences, sharing their own solutions and assessments. Representatives of the Venice Commission and the European Commission also joined the panel, sharing insights into the European standards that should guide our efforts to uphold the rule of law and highlighting the existing legal frameworks and instruments available to protect and strengthen it.

The session was held in English and livestreamed on the Civil Society Fund Romania page. The full recording is available HERE and also on the Forum’s youtube channel: KAS RLPSEE – YouTube.

Selected statements from the event’s speakers:

On 20–21 October 2026, Bucharest will host the second edition of the Rule of Law Forum, a platform bringing together European and national institutions, legal professionals, academia and civil society to discuss current challenges to the rule of law and, most importantly, the solutions and mechanisms available to address them.

EEA Civil Society Fund Romania supports the Rule of Law Forum because the rule of law, the protection of fundamental rights and an open and resilient civic space are essential conditions for a functioning democracy.

And we are directly contributing to this conversation.

On 21 October, from 09:30 to 11:30, at Casa Europa, we will organise the panel “Civil Society Ecosystems for the Rule of Law: Regional Tools and Practices.”

We will bring Romania’s experience into dialogue with those of Poland, Hungary and Slovenia, exploring what works, what we can learn from one another, and which concrete tools can help protect civic space and strengthen cooperation between civil society and public institutions.

This is one of the key priorities of the EEA Civil Society Fund Romania: not only to support civil society organisations, but also to help build an environment in which they can operate freely, independently and effectively.

The calls launched today cover a wide range of areas and activities, as follows:

Special attention will be given to areas considered of major importance in Romania: addressing the challenges generated by the invasion of Ukraine; Roma inclusion and empowerment, including specific support for Roma-led organisations and for Roma women and girls; combating gender-based violence (GBV).

Eligible applicants are non-governmental and non-profit organisations, legally established in Romania, organised and operating in accordance with the relevant Romanian legislation.

Applications may be submitted in partnership with eligible entities, as described in the text of the call. Partnerships with entities from the Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) are encouraged.

Project funding will be awarded in the form of grants (non-reimbursable funding), following a selection process. Several types of grants are available under the programme, with values ranging from 15,000 to 350,000 Euro.

The application process opens on 8 July 2026 and will take place exclusively online, on a dedicated platform: https://finantaripublice.fdsc.ro.

The application deadline is 8 October 2026.

Further details about each call, as well as about the programme, are available on the website www.eeacivilsocietyfund.ro.

With almost 10% of total non-reimbursable funds dedicated to Romania, Civil Society Fund Romania will support until 2031 civil society organisations working across the following priority areas: Democratic values, civic engagement, information integrity and media literacy; Civil society participation in democratic processes; Human rights, anti-discrimination, and social justice; Gender equality, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, and LGBTIQ+ rights; Climate action, environmental protection, and a just green transition; Organisational development and an enabling environment for civil society.

CSDF, as Consortium Lead, signed the Implementation Agreement with the Financial Mechanism Office (FMO) — the secretariat of the donor states – and serves as Fund Operator, responsible for the selection, contracting, and monitoring of projects. Its role runs through 28 February 2032, while grants will be implemented until 30 April 2031.

All activities funded through the programme must be in line with the shared European values of human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. All funded activities must be consistent with sustainable development, long-term economic growth, social cohesion, and environmental protection.

The implementation of Civil Society Fund Romania is governed by a set of principles established by the donor states, binding throughout the entire duration of the programme. The programme shall adhere to the principles of good governance (being participatory, inclusive, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective, and efficient) with zero tolerance towards corruption in any form.  Implementation follows a results and risk management approach, ensuring that resources are directed where they have the greatest and most lasting impact.

The consortium will proceed with the programme’s operational setup and the launch of competitive calls for proposals open to Romanian civil society organisations. The calls for proposals will contain further details on eligibility, application procedures, and timelines.

The launch event of the EEA Civil Society Fund for Romania brought together in Bucharest on the 2^nd of July 2026, more than 250 representatives of civil society organizations, public institutions, other donors, business community, and of other programs funded through the EEA and Norwegian Grants. The agenda included the presentation of the Civil Society Fund and the calls for proposals to be launched under the Programme, as well as a discussion on the role and importance of supporting civil society and the existing mechanisms at European and national level for protecting and strengthening civic space.

Update, 28  May 2026, 09:00 a.m. The number of signatory organizations has reached 870.

Update, 22  May 2026, 09:00 a.m. The number of signatory organizations has exceeded 850.

Update, 21  May 2026, 09:00 a.m. The number of organizations that have signed the open letter has now reached 825.

Update, 20 May 2026, 10:30 a.m.  The number of organizations that have signed the open letter has exceeded 700.

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More than 430 civil society organizations are raising concerns about the risks posed by the legislative initiative to amend Government Ordinance No. 26/2000 on associations and foundations, which is on the agenda of today’s plenary session of the Romanian Senate, draft law L233/2026.

We consider that the general obligation to publish donors’ identities, combined with the sanction of suspending an organization’s activity for failure to submit the required declaration, is a disproportionate measure that may affect freedom of association and the ability of non-governmental organizations to operate.

Transparency is necessary in a democratic society, but it must not be turned into a mechanism of control or permanent suspicion directed at civil society, especially since state institutions already hold the relevant information and have the legal tools to intervene when there are suspicions of unlawful conduct.

The signatory organizations call on Parliament to reject this initiative or on its initiators to withdraw it, given the concerns regarding its constitutionality, its compatibility with European standards on freedom of association, and the quality of the legislation. These concerns have also been reflected in the negative opinions issued by the Economic and Social Council, the Legislative Council, and the Senate Committee on Human Rights.

Any regulation concerning civil society must be based on a legitimate aim, concrete data, and proportionate measures, not on assumptions that may restrict civic space in Romania.

Bucharest, February 10, 2026 – The population’s level of trust in non-governmental organizations in Romania remains around 50%, in a social context marked by successive crises, accentuated polarization and generalized distrust in institutions. At the same time, although distrust of NGOs is also relatively constant between 2010 and 2025, it is becoming more intense, with the proportion of those who say they “have no  confidence at all” doubling between 2016 and 2025, from 14% to 27%, according  to The Barometer of Opinions on the Civil Society – BOSC 2025, conducted by the Civil Society Development Foundation (FDSC).

BOSC 2025 is part of a series of sociological researches carried out in 2010, 2016, 2023 and 2025, analyzing the evolution of public perceptions of civil society: the level of trust, attitudes towards NGOs, their role and impact, forms of association and civic involvement.

BOSC 2025 data show that non-governmental organisations enjoy a significantly higher level of trust than other forms of association or public representation. NGOs are credited with a level of trust of 49%, compared to trade unions (36%) and political parties (19%). The Church remains the institution with the highest level of trust (81%).

Trust in NGOs is higher among women, young people between 18 and 44 years old, people with higher education, residents of large cities and those in the Moldova region.

Young people are constantly distinguished by a closer relationship with non-governmental organizations. People aged 18 to 29 have a significantly higher level of trust in NGOs (57%) compared to the population over 60 (36%) and are more frequently beneficiaries of the services offered by them.

The majority of respondents believe that NGOs play a key role in the functioning of a democratic society. 63% agree that NGOs get involved where the state fails to bring about change. A similar percentage, 62% believe that a democratic society cannot function without non-governmental organizations.

The statistical analyses included in the study show that trust in NGOs is strongly influenced by the belief that they are indispensable to democracy and that they make up for the failures of the state, while conspiracy theories and indigenous perceptions are associated with a low level of trust in civil society.

The overall picture of the impact of NGOs is moderately positive. Almost half of the respondents believe that NGOs have a positive influence on the quality of life of the direct beneficiaries of their services. In contrast, 62% say that non-governmental organizations have no influence on their own lives.

NGOs are perceived as having a positive impact at the local level rather than at the national level. One in three respondents believe that most NGOs pursue the general interests of society.

This perception – NGOs “do good, but not me” – is identified as one of the central explanations for the relatively low level of formal civic involvement.

Two-thirds of Romanians (66%) say they have interacted, in one way or another, with a non-governmental organization. The most common form of contact is exposure to informative materials about NGOs (55%). The proportion of those who made donations increased to 29%, with a higher participation among young people, people with higher education and residents of large cities.

Almost two-thirds of the adult population is aware of the possibility of redirecting 3.5% of their income tax, and the proportion of those who say they have used this mechanism has increased to 42% in 2025. Of these, 18% redirected to NGOs.

Young people are also more active in non-charitable forms of civic involvement: they have higher shares in participation in public demonstrations, volunteering and institutional activism. Also, young people with higher education from large cities and from the Bucharest–Ilfov area are the most present in the forms of civic involvement associated with NGOs, including in supporting the independent press, even if this form of support is still, overall, marginal at the level of the general population.

35% of adults declare that they are members of some form of association, but only 12% are currently part of an NGO in the narrow sense, and 8% pay a fee. The most widespread forms of association remain mutual aid houses, followed by religious organizations.

The analysis of civic engagement highlights four distinct dimensions: charity, militant activism, institutional activism and volunteering. Civic involvement is most frequently manifested through donations, while participation in protests, volunteering or supporting the independent press remains concentrated in smaller segments of the population, especially among young people with higher education in large urban areas.

The material support of the independent press, a relatively new phenomenon, has doubled compared to 2023 and 4% of Romanians say they have donated in the last year to a newspaper, magazine or online publication, according to BOSC 2025 data.

About 80% of respondents support the four missions tested for non-governmental organizations, namely: supporting people in need, organizing people to do things together, verifying the way governors act and contributing to the drafting of laws and other normative acts. Of these, the role that stands out is that of power surveillance: 52% believe, “to a very large extent”, that NGOs should check what the governors are doing, this expectation being more pronounced among women and people aged between 30 and 44.

The report can be accessed Here. (available in Romanian)

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.