It is taken for granted at this stage in European politics that “Civil Society” is a legitimate stakeholder for consultation and in policy discussions, understood in Brussels and many member state capitals as representative of the diverse will of the European people.
Admittedly, in many instances, that’s a harmless assumption, civil society as an umbrella incorporating a huge variety of organisations and efforts, including entirely uncontroversial charitable causes and community initiatives. But it’s not always a harmless assumption. And when it isn’t, it’s disastrous.
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