- Published: 23.10.2024.
15th EESC Civil Society Award dedicated to the fight against of harmful polarisation of the European society
Civil society organisations (CSOs), individuals and private companies can submit their non-profit project for the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) award, which this year is dedicated to the combat against harmful polarisation of the European society.
EESC initiated 15th edition of its Civil Society Prize.The EESC award goal is to sensitize the public on CSOs extraordinary contribution to creation of European identity and citizenship in promoting common values which strengthen the European integration. Every year, the prize is directed to different topic especially important to the EU. This year edition aim is to reward effective, innovative and creative non-profit initiatives or activities implemented in the EU which combat the harmful polarisation of the European society. A maximum of 5 winners will be chosen and will receive awards in the total value of 50,000 euros. It has been planned the prizes to be rewarded during the EESC Civil Society Week in March 2025.
The deadline for the application is 7 November 2024 at 10 a.m. (according to the Brussels time).
Who can apply?
All CSOs registered in the EU active at the local, regional, national or European level can apply. Also, the individuals residing in the EU, as well as companies registered of operating in the EU, can apply, on the condition that their projects are exclusively non-profit.
Only the initiatives and projects implemented in the EU will be selected. Initiatives have to be either already implemented or ongoing. Planned projects whose implementation has not started until 7 November 2024 will not be taken into consideration.
The list of conditions and on line application form are available at the EESC web page.
Eligible topics:
In order to be eligible, the application must address to at least one question on the list of eligibility criteria in the Rules for the EESC Civil Society Prize, which are available on the EESC web page.
Activities and initiatives suggested for the award can cover a wide range of topics, such as:
- Determination of individual and collective determinants of harmful polarisation and patterns that lead to the calming of tense situations;
- Promoting transparency of financing organisations, especially those polarise society or encouraging disinformation, violence or radicalisation;
- Combating reduction of media pluralism;
- Promoting of freedom, diversity and media independence;
- Promoting transparency of content moderation, among others on internet platforms;
- Combat disinformation and false news;
- Strengthening of media literacy, encouraging critical opinion and strengthening citizens’ resistance to misinformation
- Promoting discourse and measures to combat racism and xenophobia and supporting an inclusive attitude towards all minorities and disadvantaged groups;
- Prevention of radicalisation of vulnerable persons and reintegration of radicalised individuals into society
Application are available on the link
More about the topic of this year’s prize:
Polarisations is related to the sharpening of opinions or positions. It can be based on particular ideologies or concern a particular issue. It is a multidimensional phenomenon, which is not necessarily negative. Polarisation can be a part of open and pluralistic society which make possible a space for freedom of speech on topics that are relevant or sensible for public opinion. Open dialogue is the key feature of vivid democracy. Shaping of opposing and even sharp opinion and disagreements can enrich democratic debate, encourage activism and be a catalyst for change.
However, as emphasized in the EESC study “Finding a new consensus on European civil society values and their evaluation”, Governments and civil society become even more conflict, more polarised and not ready for compromise. Polarisation often leads to increased mutual distrust and even hostility between groups of similar views. Polarisation connected with hate do not reach discussions and often make impossible searching of common view. That kind of polarisation is harmful to social relations, increases social tensions, hinders cohesion, encourages distrust in political institutions and threatens democracy. Number of crisis, such as pandemic COVID-19 disease, the energy crisis, crisis of expenses for living, war in Ukraine in combination with social instability, economic decline and growing distrust of public services and bodies, are a potential ground for harmful polarisation.
Public bodies and civil society can play an important role in monitoring hotspots of polarisation on and off the Internet and help protect liberal democracy from authoritarian trends. In relation to that EESC decided its 15th Civil Society Prize rewards non-profit initiatives that effectively intervene by implementing preventive measures, measures of early warning and (according to need) measures to calm the tensions in order to ensure respect for democratic values and prevent polarisation from becoming harmful and one-sided discourse from leading to violence.
Previous EESC Civil Society Awards
The first prize of the last year, 14th EESC Award, rewarded to the project AgeWell Foundation for third age. In 2022, EESC exceptionally awarded the prize for two themes: young people and Ukraine. In 2021 awarded were projects in the area of climate promoting a just transition. In 2020, instead of Civil Society Award, EESC rewarded a one-time prize to Civil Solidarity Award dedicated to the fight against the COVID-19 disease pandemic. Some of the previous years themes were gender equality and women strengthening, European identity and cultural heritage as well as migrations.