A European values instrument to support civil society organisations which promote democracy, rule of law and fundamental values within the European Union (B8-0189/2018)
Jasenko Selimovic (ALDE). –Madam President, when we talk about shrinking space for civil society in this Parliament we usually talk about countries outside of the European Union, but we do have a shrinking space even inside the Union. For example in Hungary the law is about to be voted that requires every organisation that ‘supports immigration’ to obtain national security clearance.
In Poland restrictions have already been passed on the right to the civil society organisations to demonstrate during the December UN climate change talks in Qatar. So yes, we do need the instrument even here in the EU and I do support it strongly.