Interventions

Together with other civil society organisations, we submitted comments on the draft law implementing the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). Although some of the earlier proposals have been taken into account, the document fails to meet the standards arising from EU law in many key areas. The draft focuses primarily on the current model of functioning of public media, while overlooking the need for their profound modernisation, the strengthening of the public service mission, and genuine guarantees of editorial and journalistic independence.

At the local level

We have prepared a new edition of the handbook “Rights Are Meant to Be Used.” It is a practical and accessible guide for people who want to have a real impact on the decisions made in their municipality.

The publication shows how to exercise residents’ rights in practice — from access to public information, through submitting requests, petitions, and complaints, to participating in public consultations, local initiatives, participatory budgeting, and the village fund.

The handbook explains procedures, deadlines, and the obligations of public authorities step by step. It also offers guidance on how to respond to inaction or refusal by authorities and highlights what to pay attention to in order to effectively enforce one’s rights. The content is written in clear, plain language, without legal jargon, and is complemented by numerous practical examples as well as ready-to-use templates of documents.

This is a tool for everyone who wants to act locally — to hold authorities accountable, speak up on important issues, and co-decide how their municipality functions. The handbook reflects the legal framework as of 15 January 2026.

Daily life at Watchdog Poland

On 15 January, we opened registration for the sixth edition of the course “(No)Hope of Small and Large Municipalities.”
“(No)Hope of Small and Large Municipalities” is a training programme organised by the Civic Network Watchdog Poland. It consists of online lectures as well as materials made available on our closed course platform. Course participants will also have the opportunity to exchange experiences in a discussion group and to consult with our legal team.

The aim of the course is to broaden participants’ knowledge about how municipalities function, the tools available for civic oversight, and the rights of residents.