ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the European Union (EU) policy discourse and practices of dealing with civil societies in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries, with particular attention devoted to the post–2011 timeframe. It shows that there has been a visible change in the EU's discourse on the role of civil society in the framework of the ENP over time and a more nuanced and enhanced support to these actors in the neighbourhood. The EU has to respond to a number of challenges and pitfalls with respect to its policy towards civil society in the ENP. The chapter provides an overview the EU's policy discourse on the promotion of civil society in the eastern and southern neighbourhood. Civil society representatives in the neighbourhood repeatedly complain that the EU's funding remains too burdensome in terms of application and reporting procedures and tends to focus on short-term objectives rather than long-term initiatives.
