As the EU prepares for the upcoming European Parliament elections, representatives from diverse civil society organisations (CSOs) across Europe came together to discuss emerging issues and narratives for Europe to ensure a just social and ecological transition.

The Civil Society Forum is a space for CSOs and other stakeholders from across Europe to come together and exchange views on the European Green Deal (EGD), the EU’s strategy to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050. The forum is co-organised by SOLIDAR, SDG Watch Europe, CAN Europe and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), alongside REAL DEAL project partners.  The sixth edition of the forum witnessed the participation of more than 50 civil society organisations with an interest in sustainability, a socially Just Transition, climate and environmental action from across Europe.

Taking stock from the previous Civil Society Forum

Conducted over two half days on the 8th and 9th of November, the forum opened with a presentation by Lucia Sanchez of Youth and Environment Europe on the outcomes from the in-person meeting of the Civil Society Forum in June. Lucia shared the main outcomes of the policy brief on the Future of the European Green Deal, prepared jointly by the Civil Society Forum in June 2023. The policy brief offers clear recommendations for a European Green Deal with clear dimension of social justice and the recommendations aim to make sure the deal works for everyone and that Europe’s move to sustainability is fair and inclusive.

Co-creating compelling narratives ahead of the 2024 European elections

Throughout the forum, the participants also discussed key topics under the themes of citizen’s mobilisation, civic space and democracy, and the Green and Social Deal in smaller working groups. 

On the second day of the forum, freelance campaigner Nathan Stewart shared valuable insights into the recipe for building successful political narratives for communications and participants discussed the potential messages centred around key emerging issues in the context of the upcoming EU elections.

The discussions were successful in advancing reflections within civil society on how to strengthen the synergies between climate and environmental and social objectives. A policy tool will be produced by the Forum to summarise the main findings of the discussions.

Coming soon: Join us for the next meeting!

The Civil Society Forum meets three times per year and the next meetings will take place in early 2024. 

Keep an eye on the REAL DEAL website for updates and further information.