In the September digest, experts from the Ukrainian Independent Center for Political Research have compiled a list of legislative changes and initiatives related to the activities of civil society organizations:
- CSOs have an opportunity to contribute to the development of the new National
- Strategy for Promoting the Development of Civil Society in Ukraine
- The draft State Budget of Ukraine for 2027 has been registered
- A special mechanism to protect against SLAPP lawsuits is proposed
- Changes to the operations of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation are proposed
Read more about these developments and find out how they may affect the work of CSOs.
The Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine invites stakeholders to contribute to the development of the new National Strategy for Promoting the Development of Civil Society
The development of a new National Strategy for Promoting the Development of Civil Society has begun. The Strategy will define state policy in this area for the next six years. Representatives of civil society organizations, state authorities and local self-government bodies, as well as international and academic organizations, are invited to contribute to its development.
The new Strategy is expected to cover the following areas:
- civic participation, including through the use of digital technologies;
- development of volunteering;
- registration and facilitation of the activities of civil society institutions;
- protection of civic actors;
- involvement of CSOs in the provision of social and other socially important services;
- development of social entrepreneurship;
- interaction between civil society and public authorities, local self-government bodies, citizens, and businesses.
A civil society–government platform is being established to support the preparation of the document. Participants will receive materials and information on the progress of the Strategy’s development, invitations to public consultations, and opportunities to participate directly in them.
👉 To join the platform, please complete the application form: participation form
The new Strategy is expected to become one of the key documents defining the conditions for the operation and development of civil society in Ukraine in the coming years. For CSOs, this is an opportunity to contribute to shaping future state policy on civil society at the development stage.
Registered Draft Legislation
The Government has submitted the draft State Budget of Ukraine for 2027 to Parliament
What is the document about: The draft Law of Ukraine “On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2027” provides for state budget expenditures of UAH 7.27 trillion.
In the social sphere, UAH 538.9 billion is allocated under the budget programmes of the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, including UAH 2.7 billion for the development of the social services system.
In the humanitarian sphere, the draft provides, in particular, UAH 223.5 billion in nationwide expenditures administered by the Ministry of Education and Science, including UAH 192.8 billion for the education subvention, UAH 15 billion under the programmes of the Ministry of Culture, and UAH 8.1 billion under the programmes of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
A further UAH 267.4 million is allocated for measures related to state youth policy and the strengthening of Ukrainian national and civic identity, including state support for the Plast and scouting movement. Compared with 2026, funding for this programme increases by UAH 157.3 million, or almost 2.4 times.
Another UAH 76.1 million is allocated for ensuring Ukraine’s unity information policy and developing national identity and shared development. Funding for this area remains virtually unchanged compared with 2026.
The draft also separately allocates UAH 177.9 million in financial support for civil society associations operating in the field of physical culture and sports.
Why it is important: The draft State Budget for 2027 increases expenditures across a number of social and humanitarian areas, including social protection, education, healthcare, culture, youth, and sports. Some of these areas are directly related to the work of civil society organizations, including the provision of social services, support for veterans, persons with disabilities, children and families, youth policy, culture, and sports. It is also worth noting the increase in funding for state youth policy measures and the strengthening of Ukrainian national and civic identity.
The draft law proposes introducing a special mechanism in Ukraine to protect against SLAPP lawsuits
What is the document about: The draft law aims to protect persons engaged in public participation from lawsuits and judicial proceedings used to exert pressure, intimidate, restrict civic activity, or punish them for such activity. The protection would apply to both individuals and legal entities, including journalists, media outlets, civil society organizations, human rights defenders, whistleblowers, activists, academics, and other persons whose activities concern matters of public interest.
Under the draft law, public participation means any activity by an individual or legal entity concerning a matter of public interest carried out in the exercise of freedom of expression and information, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, scientific and artistic activity, electoral rights, as well as activities aimed at supporting the exercise of these rights. Accordingly, the protection would extend not only to journalists and media outlets, but also to civil society organizations, human rights defenders, whistleblowers, activists, academics, artists, and others engaged in activities of public significance.
The draft law sets out indicators that may point to a SLAPP, including the use of an imbalance of power, financial resources, political influence, or other advantages to exert pressure on the defendant; unfounded or disproportionate claims; artificially inflated litigation costs; deliberate delays in proceedings; multiple or coordinated lawsuits; threats; harassment; and campaigns aimed at discrediting the public participant.
One of the key innovations is the possibility of terminating such proceedings at an early stage. A defendant would be able to file a motion to dismiss proceedings on the grounds of abuse of judicial process, while the court could also raise the issue on its own initiative. Once a connection between the lawsuit and public participation, as well as indications of possible abuse, has been established, the claimant would be required to provide sufficient legal and factual justification for the claims and rebut the indications of abuse. No other procedural actions would be taken while this issue is being considered. Detector Media also notes that the mechanism is intended to prevent the refiling of an identical claim after a case has been finally dismissed as a SLAPP.
If abuse is established, the court would be able to dismiss the proceedings, order the claimant to bear the litigation costs, and impose a fine of between 10 and 15 subsistence minimums for able-bodied persons. The affected person would also have the right to claim compensation for pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage.
Additional safeguards include protection of confidential sources of information, expanded access to free legal aid, and the possibility of reducing or waiving court fees to ensure a public participant’s access to justice. With the defendant’s consent, civil society associations and other civic entities would also be able to join relevant proceedings and submit their opinions to the court.
The draft law also provides protection against cross-border SLAPPs, including the possibility of refusing to recognise foreign court judgments in Ukraine where the relevant proceedings are found to constitute an abuse of judicial process against public participation.
Why it is important: For the first time, the draft law proposes establishing a comprehensive mechanism in Ukraine to counter the use of lawsuits as a tool for exerting pressure on civil society. The early dismissal mechanism is particularly important, as SLAPPs can exert pressure simply through lengthy and costly litigation.
For CSOs, the draft law provides a dual mechanism: organizations themselves would be able to benefit from protection against SLAPPs, while also being able to participate in court proceedings in support of other public participants.
Adoption of the draft law would also contribute to fulfilling Ukraine’s European integration commitments and aligning Ukrainian legislation with EU Directive 2024/1069 on countering SLAPPs.
Changes to the operations of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation are proposed
What is the document about: The draft law proposes comprehensive amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation,” including clarifying the mechanisms for providing grant support, conducting competitive project selection, and regulating the activities of the Foundation’s Supervisory Board, Directorate, and expert councils.
The draft law introduces the concept of a “long-term project” — a project lasting between 12 and 36 months that may be implemented during the current and subsequent budget periods. The Foundation would be able to finance such projects in instalments — through tranches provided under a grant agreement.
It also introduces statutory definitions of “grant,” “project,” “long-term project,” and “project ranking list.” In particular, a grant is defined as targeted financial assistance provided by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation to individuals and legal entities on a free and non-repayable basis for project implementation.
The draft proposes removing the provisions on institutional support grants, which currently provide for support to legal entities to maintain their competitiveness and create jobs under restrictions related to martial law or a state of emergency, an emergency situation, or quarantine.
The draft law also provides for support for inclusive projects and the development of the culture, cultural diversity, and values of national minorities, communities, and Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine. Support for projects addressing the cultural needs of Ukrainians abroad would also be updated to cover projects aimed at meeting the cultural needs of Ukrainian citizens residing abroad and Ukrainians living outside Ukraine.
A separate set of amendments concerns competitive project selection. An additional level of approval would be introduced for large projects; the rules on project co-financing would be clarified; the powers of the Supervisory Board, Directorate, and Executive Director would be further specified; the procedure for appointing the Foundation’s leadership and selecting the Executive Director would be updated; and conflict-of-interest and anti-corruption requirements would be strengthened.
Why it is important: The proposed changes directly concern CSOs that receive or plan to apply for grant support from the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation. One of the most practically significant changes is the possibility of supporting projects lasting up to three years and financing them in tranches across several budget periods. This would create opportunities to implement long-term cultural projects that are difficult to carry out within a single budget year.
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