This is the Liberties Civic Space Tracker, a new and unique tool designed to monitor and track legal threats to civic space across the EU.

It builds on the extensive monitoring and advocacy work of Liberties’ member organisations and numerous partners. At its launch, the database includes nearly 70 documents from EU Member States, offering an overview of legal developments affecting civic space across 21 Member States.

The Civic Space Tracker is a living tool, regularly updated to reflect new developments.

Why do we need a Civic Space Tracker?

A vibrant civic space, that enables individuals and groups to participate meaningfully in political, social, economic and cultural life, is essential for a functioning democracy based on fundamental rights and the rule of law. One vital part of a thriving civic space is ensuring that watchdog organisations are able to independently carry out their work without fear of reprisals.

Over the last decade this space has been threatened. The rights to free expression, association and assembly have been curbed through a range of tactics from smear campaigns, to funding cuts, legal cases and laws that modify the civic space. Within the EU threats have multiplied over the last decade.

Data from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) indicate that 75 % of responding civil society organisations (CSOs) face barriers in conducting human rights activities. The Liberties Rule of Law reports (2026, 2025, 2024), now in their seventh edition, shows a steady decline with a persistent group of Member States taking active steps to dismantle the rule of law. In the last couple of years these threats have been mirrored within the EU institutions themselves with Members of the European Parliament, for example, setting up a Scrutiny Working Group to look at the actions of civil society organizations. In such an environment it is necessary to track and understand the developments and learn from similar experiences.

What is the Civic Space Tracker?

The Civic Space Tracker is a legal tool designed to track the legal threats to civic space across the EU. It allows users to find and analyse the laws and policies that threaten civic space and the responses from both institutional and civil society actors. It therefore allows users to both understand the threats and learn from the responses.

What is the Thematic Scope of the Tracker?

The Tracker takes a broad view of civic space using the UN definition as a starting point: “civic space is the environment that enables people and groups – or ‘civic space actors’ – to participate meaningfully in the political, economic, social and cultural life in their societies. Vibrant civic space requires an open, secure and safe environment that is free from all acts of intimidation, harassment and reprisals, whether online or offline. Any restrictions on such a space must comply with international human rights law.” (UN Guidance Note on Protection and Promotion of Civic Space).

It therefore tracks developments that limit civic freedoms, primarily freedom of expression and access to information, freedom of association and assembly and freedom of the arts and sciences, as set out in articles 11,12 and 13 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights as well as those rights that link to the ability of individuals and organisations to participate meaningfully in the economic, social and cultural life in their societies.

What is the Geographic Scope of the Tracker?

The Tracker aims to cover all EU Member States but at the time of the launch in September 2026 covers the countries where Liberties has a member - therefore 21 Member States of the EU. It is intended as a live tool that will be updated as new developments emerge. Currently some countries may be more detailed based on available information and inputs.

Who is the Tracker Aimed At and How Might Someone Use It?

The Tracker is aimed at a wide range of individuals and organisations, from policy makers, to civil society, academics and lawyers. It is a digital database that collects and consolidates legislation on a website, and allows users to quickly and easily filter results using a variety of search filters. People might use it to understand and research a range of similar laws in different countries, to understand how a neighbouring country responded to a similar problem or to help build arguments for a legal case.

Specific countries can be searched in the database using the map. Alternatively, users can search by different parameters, such as the type of government action (e.g. a draft law or legal case), the rights violated, the rationale for the action (e.g. transparency or national security), and the date range.

Under each action it is possible to find an overview, several short summaries and where available the responses from institutions, civil society or legal cases.

Who Built the Tracker and how will it be Maintained?

The Tracker was designed and developed by Liberties and was researched by an in-house team with support and advice from Liberties’ member organisations. It builds on the work of many pioneering organisations across the region who have analysed and responded to threats to civic space over the last decade.

It is designed as a living tool and will be updated periodically. We rely on your inputs to update and inform us of developments. Any errors lie with Liberties and please don’t hesitate to contact us if you notice any errors or would like to share any updates. Contact: civicspacetracker ( at ) liberties (dot) eu. 

Image Credits

Andrey K - unsplash
Edmond Dantes - Pexels
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Brooke Balentine-unsplash
alfomedeiros- Pexels
thirdman- Pexels
Joshua Koblin-unsplash
Linda Gschwentner -Pexels
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