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Event
- Thursday, 04. June 2026 9:00 am – 11:59 pm Save in my calendar
Uniting for resilient democracies and vibrant civil societies in Europe
See agendaOver the last 10 years, the Paris office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation has been providing a space for exchange and cooperation between French, Italian and German civil society organizations as well as political actors. This has allowed us all to work towards an ecological, just and inclusive society.
This anniversary is an opportunity to invite our French, Italian and European partners for a day of discussions and workshops on the future of our democracies and free civil societies. Together with you, we would like to reflect on how to collectively counter the manifold challenges and dangers we are facing due to the current return of authoritarianism.
In sight of the decisive moments for our democracies, in 2027 and across Europe in 2029, we wish to foster transnational networks of solidarity and cooperation. We are looking forward to bringing you from different movements in a transversal manner: from climate and environment, to gender equality and LGBTQIA+ rights, anti-racism and antisemitism.
This conference will be followed by an evening of friendship and gratitude. It will be a moment to cherish our partnerships of the last decade and to jointly look forward into the next 10 years.
Agenda
9.00 am-9.30 am
Arrival, registration and breakfast
A wardrobe is provided
Location: 211, parc de la Villette, 75019 Paris
9.30 am-9.45 am
Welcome Remarks
Marc Berthold, Director of the Paris office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation
Jan Phillip Albrecht, Co-President of the Heinrich Böll Foundation
Location: 211
9.45 am-10.15 am
Keynotes
Franziska Brantner, Co-Chairwoman of Alliance 90/ The Greens
Location: 211
10.15 am-11.00 am
Defending democracy and a free civil society today: Current examples from Europe and the U.S. Part 1
Chaired by Aisha Camara
Crosscutting 2-3 minutes interviews with partners from France, Italy, Europe and the U.S. on main challenges and defense actions from civil society movements, such as civil and minority rights, women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ emancipation, climate and environmental, media freedom, etc.
Location: 211
11.30 am-1.00 pm
Defending democracy and a free civil society today: Current examples from Europe and the U.S. – Part 2
Chaired by Aisha Camara
What can we learn from Part One? What does resonate?
How exactly have movements organized themselves? What strategies and techniques have been successful? What are don’ts?
Location: 211
1.00 pm-2.15 pm
Lunch Break
Location: Villette Makerz
2.15 pm-3.45 pm
How can we defend freedom of information and combat disinformation?
In times of private concentration and state-capture of media, massive disinformation campaigns, truth and facts have been under attack, and so have information providers. Algorithms and gatekeepers also control who has access to information.
What have been successful strategies and best practices to defend the information space, factual reporting and to prove or create reliable, pluralistic news and information sources?
2.15 pm-3.45 pm
How can we counter defamation, criminalisation and persecution of civil society?
NGOs and activists are coming under political, verbal and even physical attack across the board, from those involved for gender equality, migration rights as well as for environmental causes. Not to mention the antiracist movement that is being targeted by delegitimization campaigns and attacks from neo-fascist activists and institutions.
These threats may come from governments, state agencies, business lobbies or right-wing extremists’ groups. What have been successful strategies and best practices to respond to such attacks and create mutually supportive rapid-response mechanisms?
2.15 pm-3.45 pm
How can we effectively reach out to a wider democratic public?
As discriminatory debates and positions are being normalized, truth is distorted and the public space is becoming less safe, there is an increasing need to defend democracy with those who have not been politically involved.
How to create alliances between different sectors of society, from faith groups to sports and youth associations, to farmers; in cities, suburban communities and in rural areas? What are best practices across Europe?
2.15 pm-3.45 pm
How can we strengthen our financial basis at a time of defunding and shrinking resources?
Civil society involvement and organizing have always been a financial challenge. In current times, NGOs observe that states reduce their funding, set political and exclusive criteria, private philanthropy is shying away from certain activism, more and more countries limit international funding for local NGOs.
What are effective models to finance activism? Are there models to share and pool financial resources?
3.45 pm-4.15 pm
Coffee Break & Mingling
Location: 211
4.15 pm-5.15 pm
Closing plenary: “Reporting back” and recharging for the long haul: Hope for a buildable future?
Location: 211
6.00 pm-6.45 pm
10 Years of Heinrich Böll Foundation in Paris: Taking stock for the next decade
Marc Berthold, Director of the Paris office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation
Dr. Jens Althoff, first Director of the Paris office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation
A conversation of Aisha Camara with
- Jan Philipp Albrecht, Co-President of the Heinrich Böll Foundation (confirmed)
- Dr. Franziska Brantner, Co-Chair of Bündnis90/Die Grünen (confirmed)
- Marine Tondelier, General Secretary of Les Ecologistes (confirmed),
- Benedetta Scuderi, Member of the European Parliament, Greens/European Free Alliance (tbc),
- and two partners of hbs Paris
Location: Villette Makerz
6.45 pm-8.00 pm
Flying Buffet and live music
Location: Villette Makerz
8.00 pm-midnight
La fête
DJ
Location: Villette Makerz
- Address
-
211 & Villette Makerz
Parc de la Villette
75019 Paris
Metro : Line 5 (Porte de Pantin) and Line 7 (Porte de la Villette)
- Organizer
- Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Paris - France
- Language
- English
- French