Launch: Protecting civic space to foster more meaningful citizen participation in Bulgaria

The OECD, in partnership with the Government of Bulgaria and with the support of the EEA and Norway Grants, is launching a Review of the protection of civic space to foster more meaningful citizen and stakeholder participation in Bulgaria.

The launch event will bring together representatives from the Bulgarian government, civil society organisations, the OECD, and international experts from Croatia, Czechia and France. It marks the formal start of the Review and provides an opportunity for stakeholders to learn about the project, discuss key challenges and opportunities, and engage with the OECD and international peers ahead of the fact-finding phase of the project.

The launch aims to build a shared understanding of the Review's objectives, scope, methodology and timeline, while creating space for dialogue on how Bulgaria can continue to strengthen civic space and citizen participation.

With the support of the EEA and Norway Grants, the OECD has launched a multi-country project covering Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia and Lithuania, which combines in-depth country assessments and comparative analysis with practical capacity-building, support for monitoring, and cross-country exchanges. Through data, analysis, recommendations and tailored capacity-building, it aims to support countries by providing recommendations on safeguarding civic space and strengthening civic engagement as cornerstones of democratic governance.