The European Union (EU) has a long-standing global commitment to supporting and advocating for the role of independent, peaceful, representative civil society organizations (CSOs) as important actors in development and in the strengthening of democratic processes and structures. The new Roadmap is intended as a strategic instrument, which will complement the EU Joint Strategy 2018-2022 and provide guidance to the different areas of EU engagement with Civil Society –political and policy dialogue, development cooperation, and trade – rather than an output-specific plan of action.