Progetto BRIDGE – Building Resilience and Inclusion for Democracy and participatory Governance

BRIDGE – Building Resilience and Inclusion for Democracy and participatory Governance

BRIDGE is a project aimed at strengthening collaboration between civil society organizations (CSOs) and the Council of Europe (CoE). At a time when democracy is at risk, the project supports CSOs in effectively using CoE tools to defend fundamental rights and promote democratic values. Funded by the Council of Europe, the project will be implemented in Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Belgium, Serbia, and Georgia, addressing the specific challenges of each country.

The BRIDGE project, through cooperation between civil society organisations (CSOs) and the Council of Europe (CoE), strengthens the capacity of CSOs to defend democracy and fundamental rights in Europe. Based on the Reykjavik Principles and the European Social Charter (ESC), it provides tools and opportunities for active civil society participation in decision-making and democratic monitoring processes, contributing to the protection of human rights at national and international level.

BRIDGE is part of the Three-Year Strategy of the Conference of INGOs (2024-2027), upholding liberal democratic values and promoting the European Social Charter to fight inequality and strengthen social rights in Europe.

Eventual activities

- Online training for CSO professionals to strengthen partners' competences on democratic governance and Council of Europe instruments

- National roundtables to adapt acquired knowledge to local contexts

- European regional online roundtables to identify challenges and opportunities and strengthen collaboration between CSOs in different countries

- European Summit in Strasbourg to promote dialogue between CSOs and CoEs and outline future strategies

- Online awareness-raising campaign to disseminate project results and involve marginalised groups