Joint LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER by 75 Civil Society Organizations
The HOME Project, alongside 74 other civil society organizations and networks, has co-signed a joint letter to the Prime Minister of Greece. The letter expresses our serious concerns about recent public statements made by current and former government officials that dismiss the role, transparency, and impact of civil society organizations. Such rhetoric not only undermines the invaluable work carried out by NGOs but also threatens the democratic values of accountability, participation, and respect for human rights. Together, we call on the government to reaffirm its commitment to constructive dialogue and cooperation with civil society as an essential partner in strengthening democracy and social cohesion.
READ THE FULL LETTER BELOW:
The denigration of Civil Society Organizations undermines society itself and the institutional functioning of democracy
Dear Prime Minister,
The undersigned Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) express our deep concern in light of recent public statements by current and former government officials [1] that disparage the work and transparency of CSOs and downplay the role of volunteering, even in relation to the recent deadly wildfires. These statements do not only harm the organizations themselves; they damage society as a whole and the institutional framework of democracy.
As you yourself have supported in the past [2], Civil Society plays an essential and serious role in every modern democratic society. CSOs are internationally recognized [3] as a key means of activating and engaging citizens in public life.
Organizations, as structured extensions of Civil Society with a continuous presence and work in their respective fields of public interest, are agents of modernization and forces that deliver invaluable contributions to the protection of human rights, the environment, and the quality of life for all of us. By operating with transparency, public accountability, and enhanced civic participation, they are drivers of positive progress in modern democracies: identifying social needs, safeguarding human rights and the environment, and proposing solutions to systemic problems while also mitigating significant social divisions. In all mature democracies, Civil Society is regarded as a critical institutional interlocutor, not as a scapegoat.
We are not adversaries of the State – on the contrary, we play a complementary role. We strengthen its foundations and support millions of citizens and the country itself.
Regarding the announced controls on those who express dissent with government policy, these suggest a slippery slope. We stress that institutional oversight is not only legitimate but also necessary – and for this reason we ourselves have consistently sought it, through our proposals in the National Action Plan for Civil Society as well as through numerous initiatives and letters aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability.
However, when oversight is presented as a threat or a punitive tool, it becomes a means of blackmail, intimidation, and silencing. Such practice contradicts a series of relevant national and international laws and regulations. In all mature democracies, oversight is applied on an institutional basis, not wielded as a political weapon.
Prime Minister,
Civil Society is the citizens themselves and cannot be treated with hostility, disdain, or indifference.
We call on the government and on you personally to denounce these statements and to foster a culture of respect and cooperation with Civil Society, recognizing its crucial role as a fundamental partner in good governance, institutional integrity, and the defense of our democracy.
In a time of global change, our country faces multiple challenges. Democracies are called upon to respond effectively to a wide range of situations, while maintaining open communication with their citizens and protecting their rights. Experience shows that only this approach delivers meaningful results and prosperity.
From our side, we will continue to offer our multifaceted work, building public trust in institutions and ultimately strengthening our democracy at a time when it is constantly under attack on a global level.
The undersigned Civil Society Organizations and Representatives
- ActionAid Hellas
- Aegean Rebreath
- ANIMA
- Babel Day Centre/Syn-eirmos NGO of Social Solidarity
- CHALLEDU
- Changemakers Lab
- Culture for Change
- Cyclades Preservation Fund ΑΜΚΕ (CPF)
- Εmfasis Non Profit
- GIVMED Share medicine Share life
- Greenpeace Greece
- HIGGS
- The HOME Project
- Homo Digitalis Αστική Μη Κερδοσκοπική Εταιρεία
- incommon ΑΜΚΕ
- Inter Alia
- INTERSOS HELLAS
- IRC Hellas
- iSea
- Ithaca Laundry
- Lean In Network Greece-Athens
- Melissa Network
- People Behind
- Praksis
- Promitheas
- ProΝούς ΑΜΚΕ
- Save your Hood
- SHE SOCIETY FOR HELP AND EMPOWERMENT AMKE
- SolidarityNow
- Spetses Care For Animals Α.Μ.Κ.Ε.
- Terre des hommes Hellas
- Vouliwatch
- We4All
- We Need Books
- WHEN Equity Empowerment Change
- WWF Ελλάς
- ΑΜΚΕ ΡΟΔΑΚΑΣ
- ΑΜΚΕ Συνάψεις
- ΑΡΧΕΛΩΝ
- Γιατροί του Κόσμου
- Δεσμός Μη Κερδοσκοπικό Σωματείο
- Διαβάζω για τους Άλλους
- Δίκτυο για τα Δικαιώματα του Παιδιού
- ΕΚΠΟΙΖΩ - Ένωση Καταναλωτών η Ποιότητα της Ζωής
- ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΚΑΤΑΝΑΛΩΤΙΚΗ ΟΡΓΑΝΩΣΗ ΦΛΩΡΙΝΑΣ
- Ελληνική Ομάδα Διάσωσης
- Ελληνικό Δίκτυο για την Καταπολέμηση της Φτώχειας
- Ελληνικό Δίκτυο για το Δικαίωμα στη Στέγη και την Κατοικία
- Ελληνικό Παρατηρητήριο των Συμφωνιών του Ελσίνκι
- Ένωση Ασθενών Ελλάδας
- Ένωση Μικρομεσαίων Οργανώσεων της Κοινωνίας των Πολιτών Ελλάδας
- Επιστήμη Επικοινωνία SciCo
- ΕΤΑΙΡΙΑ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗΣ ΨΥΧΙΑΤΡΙΚΗΣ Π. ΣΑΚΕΛΛΑΡΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ
- Ίριδα Κέντρο Γυναικών
- ΚΑΛΛΙΣΤΩ - Περιβαλλοντική Οργάνωση για την Άγρια Ζωή και τη Φύση
- ΚΑΡΙΤΑΣ ΑΘΗΝΑΣ
- Κάριτας Ελλάς
- Κέντρο Διοτίμα
- Κέντρο Καθοδήγησης Καρκινοπαθών - Κάπα3
- ΚΜΟΠ
- Κοινωφελές Σωματείο Αρωγής και Φροντίδας Ηλικιωμένων και Ατόμων με Αναπηρία-ΦΡΟΝΤΙΖΩ
- Μεσογειακό Ινστιτούτο για τη Φύση και τον Άνθρωπο (MedINA)
- Νέα Γεωργία Νέα Γενιά
- ΟΔΥΣΣΕΙΑ
- ΟΙΚΑΝΟΣ ΚΟΙΝΣΕΠ
- ΟΜΙΛΟΣ ΕΝΕΡΓΩΝ ΝΕΩΝ ΔΥΤΙΚΗΣ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑΣ
- ΠΑΙΔΙΚΑ ΧΩΡΙΑ SOS ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ
- Πανελλήνια Ένωση Καταναλωτών «ΒΙΟΖΩ» - «ΒΙΟ-ΚΑΤΑΝΑΛΩΤΕΣ ΓΙΑ ΠΟΙΟΤΙΚΗ ΖΩΗ»
- ΠΑΝΟΣ & ΧΡΥΣΗΙΔΑ - ΒΟΗΘΕΙΑ ΣΤΑ ΠΑΙΔΙΑ
- ΠΕΙΡΑΙΚΗ ΕΝΩΣΗ ΓΟΝΕΩΝ ΚΗΔΕΜΟΝΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΩΝ ΑΤΟΜΩΝ ΜΕ ΑΝΑΠΗΡΙΑ
- ΠΡΟΛΗΨΙΣ ΑΣΤΙΚΗΣ ΜΗ ΚΕΡΔΟΣΚΟΠΙΚΗΣ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑΣ ΠΡΟΛΗΠΤΙΚΗΣ ΠΕΡΙΒΑΛΛΟΝΤΙΚΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΡΓΑΣΙΑΚΗΣ ΙΑΤΡΙΚΗΣ
- Σταγόνα
- Σύλλογος Μερίμνης Ανηλίκων και Νέων
- Σύλλογος Οροθετικών Ελλάδας – Θετική Φωνή
- Συλλόγος Φίλων Παιδιών, Εφήβων, Ενηλίκων ΑμεΑ και όλων των παιδιών «Εθελοντούμε»
[1] ERT, 20 August 2025, program “Syndeseis” & MEGA, 13 August 2025, program “Koinonia Ora Mega.”
[2] 1/12/2021, meeting with the Hellenic Patients’ Association, on the occasion of World AIDS Day.
[3] The role of Civil Society as complementary to a democratic state has been repeatedly recognized, both by the United Nations and by the European Union. In the European Union (EU), Article 15 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union recognizes the role of Civil Society in the good governance of the EU. Article 11 of the Treaty on European Union highlights the need for the EU to maintain open, transparent, and regular dialogue with Civil Society organizations, for example, when drafting EU legislative proposals.