Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Civil society is the backbone of democracy: citizens organizing to defend freedoms, strengthen their communities, and hold power accountable. Yet across Europe and beyond, this space is increasingly under pressure. What begins as calls for “transparency” can quickly turn into efforts to discredit and defund independent organizations. At a time of geopolitical instability and democratic backsliding, supporting civil society is not optional, it is structural to the future of European democracy.
In this episode, Raquel García-Hermida van der Walle, Member of the European Parliament for D66, reflects on the growing challenges facing civic space, the political will needed for EU reform, and why defending civil society must be proactive, strategic, and long-term.
This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of.
Civil society is the backbone of democracy: citizens organizing to defend freedoms, strengthen their communities, and hold power accountable. Yet across Europe and beyond, this space is increasingly under pressure. What begins as calls for “transparency” can quickly turn into efforts to discredit and defund independent organizations. At a time of geopolitical instability and democratic backsliding, supporting civil society is not optional, it is structural to the future of European democracy.
In this episode, Raquel García-Hermida van der Walle, Member of the European Parliament for D66, reflects on the growing challenges facing civic space, the political will needed for EU reform, and why defending civil society must be proactive, strategic, and long-term.
This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of.
![[Panel discussion] The Future of European Integration of Ukraine](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MDHqFazRSo0/mqdefault.jpg "[Panel discussion] The Future of European Integration of Ukraine
Ukraine has been suffering from Russia’s aggression for almost two years now, and the pressure on its possible membership in the EU and NATO is exponentially increasing. While many EU politicians and experts debate when Ukraine will be accepted into the EU, some voice a more sceptical point of view – is it truly about when or if? Ukraine’s membership would pose a significant challenge for the EU as a whole, as well as for individual member states. The membership would strain the EU’s finances, and Ukraine would become a major net recipient of aid. Ukraine is not called a granary of Europe for no reason, and, as an EU member, it would become the biggest recipient of CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) funding at a cost to the other member states. Ukraine has made clear it wants to be accepted by the EU (and NATO). On the other hand, there is a growing cloud over the EU on whether the member states will find common ground on EU enlargement.
How can we convince EU citizens that accepting Ukraine into the EU is the right thing when, for most of them, it would mean tightening their belts and lowering their living standards? Ukraine would become one of the biggest and poorest member states. Is the EU structurally ready to accept such a challenge?
Speakers:
- Alva Finn, Executive Director, European Liberal Forum
- Edita Hrdá, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the EU
- Tony Barber, Europe Editor, Financial Times
- MEP Ondřej Knotek, Member, European Parliament
- MP Kira Rudyk, Vice President, ALDE Party; Member of Parliament, Ukrainian Parliament
Host:
- Jan Macháček, Chairman of the Board, Institute for Politics and Society
Learn more about the event here: https://bit.ly/3SB7z23")
