When we think about what keeps Europe strong and united, we often think of peace, freedom, and democracy. But those values don’t protect themselves — they need support. That’s why the EU created the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV). It helps civil society groups across Europe stand up for human rights, equality, democracy, and the rule of law.
Right now, CERV makes up just 0.13% of the total EU budget. That’s an incredibly small slice — and not nearly enough to support the people and organisations defending democracy from within.
As the EU prepares its next big budget (the Multiannual Financial Framework, or MFF), we’re calling on leaders to increase CERV to 0.5% of the total EU budget. This small change would make a huge difference — and show that Europe is serious about protecting its core values.
Why It Matters
In many EU countries, civil society organisations are being harassed, underfunded, or even targeted by their own governments. These are the groups that provide legal support, protect minorities, challenge corruption, and help people understand and use their rights. Without them, democracy becomes hollow — a system with elections but without fairness, equality, or justice.
CERV is the only EU fund specifically dedicated to fostering rights and values. Since 2021, it has supported over 5,000 groups and reached 60 million people — nearly 1 in 8 EU citizens. But demand is much higher than what the budget allows: In 2024, only 9.7% of applicants received funding. That means thousands of strong, necessary projects were turned away.
Defence Spending is Rising — What About Defending Rights?
Recently, NATO countries — including most EU members — agreed to raise their military spending target from 2% to 5% of GDP. This is meant to respond to growing global threats and ensure military readiness. But defending Europe isn’t only about tanks and troops.
The EU also needs to defend democracy at home. We can’t ignore the rise of authoritarian politics, attacks on human rights defenders, and efforts to silence independent voices. If we’re spending more to protect Europe from external threats, we should also invest in protecting what Europe stands for — freedom, equality, and justice — from the inside. As others have also argued, building more stable and prosperous societies is the best way to safeguard and promote the EU’s economic and security interests - the political, economic and security dimensions complement each other. This has been evidenced over the last years in Ukraine but also in countries within the EU where civil society has been critical in holding open spaces for rights protection.
What More Funding Could Do
A stronger CERV programme would allow for:
- Longer-term, flexible support to organisations defending rights
- Support for smaller, local groups through simpler funding (especially in rural and marginalised communities)
- Funding for strategic court cases, which are often the most powerful tools to protect rights
- A new protection mechanism for human rights defenders inside the EU, similar to the one that already exists for defenders outside Europe
These aren’t just nice-to-have ideas — they’re essential if we want to stop the spread of authoritarianism and keep Europe’s democracies healthy.
Let’s Not Wait Until It’s Too Late
History shows that democracy doesn’t disappear overnight. It erodes bit by bit — through small laws, weak institutions, and the silencing of civil society. But we have the tools to stop that from happening — and CERV is one of the most important.
Investing 0.5% of the EU budget in CERV is a smart, affordable step. It’s not about charity — it’s about preserving what makes Europe strong, fair, and free. If we’re serious about defending democracy, we need to defend our core.
