These three nations, representing nearly half of the EU’s population, now join Hungary in the category reflecting constraints on civic freedoms.
According to a report by CIVICUS, the global coalition of civil society organizations and activists, France, Germany, and Italy are the three EU countries witnessing a deterioration in conditions for civil society.
Each of these member states was reclassified from «narrowed» to «obstructed,» which is the third-lowest category among five possible levels.
This annual report assesses the status of freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and expression across 198 countries and territories, categorizing them as open, narrowed, obstructed, repressed, or closed.
In Europe, the most prevalent infringements reported involve the detention of protesters, interruption of rallies, attacks on journalists, the use of disproportionate force, and public defamation.
«Significantly fewer individuals in Europe can exercise fundamental rights without encountering serious obstacles, mainly due to increasing suppression of protests and human rights defenders in some of the continent’s largest democracies,» stated Tara Petrović, Europe and Central Asia researcher for the CIVICUS Monitor.
«Leaders across Europe, especially within the EU, should counter these negative developments to ensure that the region remains a global leader in defending rights and civic space.»
France’s downgrade reflects a buildup of amplified restrictions on peaceful demonstrations and free speech, coupled with the exploitation of legislation to dissolve NGOs and intimidate activists over recent years.
Meanwhile, the decline in Germany’s civic space has progressed «at a concerning pace,» according to the report.
This regression stems from efforts to suppress people advocating for climate justice, migrant rights, and opposition to austerity policies.
«German authorities have combined political pressure with aggressive policing to restrict free expression, including raiding a relocated event with UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese and surveilling students who broadcast the event live,» the report highlighted.
In Italy, the situation for civil society has worsened after the enactment of new laws in 2025 that introduced numerous criminal offenses along with stricter sanctions for peaceful protests.
Elsewhere in Europe, Georgia and Serbia have shifted to the «repressed» category, the second-most severe classification for civic space, while Switzerland has been reclassified to «narrowed.»
This change is predominantly due to harsher crackdowns on human rights defenders and protest activities occurring in some of Europe’s major democracies.