The project “SDG and EU Values: Partnership for a Fairer Society”, implemented by CROSOL – the Croatian Platform for International Citizen Solidarity, started on October 1, 2025, and will run until September 30, 2027.
It is carried out under the Impact4Values 2.0 programme, part of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, with financial support from the European Union amounting to €60,000.
The project aims to strengthen the role of civil society organizations in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the fundamental values of the European Union, while raising public understanding of how these principles are connected to public policies and everyday life. Through education, analytical tools, and public campaigns, the project will foster dialogue between CSOs, citizens, and policymakers to support the development of a fairer, more sustainable, and inclusive society in Croatia.
Project summary:
The project addresses the problem of the limited connection between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the fundamental values of the European Union with Croatian public policies and practices. Although both agendas have been formally adopted, they are not sufficiently integrated into local strategies nor clearly communicated to citizens, particularly those in less developed areas. As a result, there is a weak understanding that goals such as equality, social justice, and environmental protection—which reflect core EU values—need to be integrated as an essential part of policies and practices.
The project tackles this issue through a series of interconnected activities that strengthen the role of civil society and the position of the CROSOL network. This includes the development of analytical and advocacy tools, such as shadow reports and policy briefs, which help member organizations present their arguments more effectively in dialogue with decision-makers. Special emphasis is placed on educating members through programs that link the SDGs with human rights, policies, and EU practices. The project will also involve organizations that are not yet members of the network, thus further expanding and strengthening it. Through campaigns and dialogue with citizens and local authorities, the project will increase the visibility of the network and its members, promote understanding of the importance of the SDGs and EU values, and contribute to the development of policies based on these values.
Project objectives:
• Strengthen the capacities of at least 20 CSOs to identify, monitor, and advocate for the implementation of SDGs in line with EU fundamental values.
• Raise awareness among at least 60,000 citizens about the connection between SDGs and EU values and their relevance for quality of life and social justice.
• Establish cooperation and communication with at least 10 public institutions through 3 dialogue sessions and the distribution of a policy brief, in order to integrate SDGs and EU values into local and national policies.
Key activities:
• Shadow report on SDG implementation in Croatia: preparation of an analytical report covering all Sustainable Development Goals, reviewing their implementation in Croatia, highlighting connections with EU values and providing real-life examples from citizens, with contributions from CROSOL members and other CSOs.
• Educational academy ‘SDG & EU Values Lab’: training on SDGs, human rights, EU values, and goal evaluation, aimed at strengthening CSO capacities for monitoring and advocating SDG implementation.
• Campaign “SDG = EU values”: digital and media campaign highlighting individual SDGs and their links to EU values through graphics, videos, and mini-stories, aimed at informing and mobilizing citizens.
• Dialogue sessions ‘Local policies for global goals’: roundtables in smaller and underdeveloped areas with local authorities, CSOs, and citizens, focusing on SDG implementation and EU values while enhancing participation and trust in local democratic processes.
• Policy brief – Recommendations for integrating SDGs and EU values: a set of recommendations for decision-makers based on the shadow report and dialogue sessions, providing clear and actionable proposals for improving SDG implementation, distributed to the Croatian Government, EU institutions, local authorities, and CSOs.
Expected impact:
The project will empower civil society organizations (CSOs) to monitor, understand, and implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the lens of the European Union’s fundamental values, in order to contribute to the development of public policies that reflect these values and promote the creation of a more just, sustainable, and inclusive society in Croatia.
Expected results:
- Evidence translated into policies: Shadow report and Policy Brief: the independent Shadow Report on SDGs and EU Values and the accompanying policy brief serve as a reference for media and decision-makers and are incorporated into at least two public consultations or official documents.
- 20 CSOs systematically monitor SDGs through the lens of EU values: organizations adopt common tools and carry out their first monitoring actions.
- Citizens recognize the link between SDGs and EU values and actively participate in a digital campaign: knowledge and engagement grow through the interactive campaign “17 Weeks / 17 Goals.”
- Public dialogue on SDGs grounded in EU values is institutionalized in local communities: local and national authorities integrate the SDG–EU values narrative into official acts.
Target groups and final beneficiaries:
The project’s target groups are civil society organizations (CSOs), particularly members of CROSOL, representatives of local and national public authorities, as well as active citizens and representatives of local communities (e.g., from Vukovar, Otočac, and Sisak). The final beneficiaries of the project are vulnerable groups in society (women, youth, older persons, national minorities, people in rural areas), the civil society sector as a whole, and the wider public in Croatia (especially in less developed areas).
The project “SDG and EU Values: Partnership for a Fairer Society” is funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, under Impact4Values 2.0.
Views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
