Natacha Kazatchkine, secretary general of the European Civic Forum (ECF), warns that democratic erosion in Europe is accelerating due to the shrinking civic space, a trend she likens to a "witch hunt" against NGOs. She highlights criminalizing solidarity with migrants, restricting protest rights, and targeting foreign-funded NGOs as key tactics. Kazatchkine criticizes EU institutions for failing to establish genuine consultation with civil society and for weakening existing protections through simplified lawmaking and a diminished rights-based agenda. She argues that the current approach, marked by a lack of strong policy support for civil society and direct attacks on its space, is pushing democracy downward at the EU level, with institutions bearing responsibility. The ECF's report details these trends, emphasizing the need for vigilance and a robust response to protect democratic resilience.