Annual Conference in Berlin on “Democracies in Peril”

This year our Annual Conference focused on the theme “Democracies in peril? What civil society can do to turn the tide,” bringing together civil society activists, researchers and professionals from the EU and neighbouring countries.

Our Annual Conference has a longstanding tradition within the Civil Society Forum, connecting civil society from various countries to foster networking and the exchange of experiences. It’s also a traveling event — held in a different city each year. In recent years, we’ve gathered in Vilnius, Warsaw and now, finally, in Berlin, a city that stands as a powerful symbol of democratic resilience and transformation.

Albert Camus once said, “Be careful, when a democracy is sick, fascism comes to its bedside, but it is not to inquire about its health.” His words resonate deeply today, as we find ourselves at a critical juncture where democratic institutions face unprecedented pressures – and the values we hold dear are being tested.

A special thanks go to our wonderful MC Barbara von Ow-Freytag and to our inspiring speakers, including Katarzyna Batko-Toluc, Yuri Dzhibladze, Neringa Jurčiukonytė, Andrea Najvirtova, Justus von Daniels, Damir Kapidzic, Simon Cosgrove to name a few. That’s not all: we want to thank all our participants who made it to this event. Check out some photos from our event below – and maybe see you next year?