This link is underscored by comparing the
results of the European Green City Index with an
independent report from the European Foundation
for the Improvement of Living and Working
Conditions (EFILWC)3
. The Foundation’s 2006
study looked specifically at participation in civil
society, based on a wide-ranging survey of European
citizens. As part of this study, the Foundation
created two indices. One was of voluntary
participation in organisations (based on the
average number of voluntary organisations,
such as religious groups, trade unions and
sports, professional or charitable bodies that citizens
belonged to), which is a useful proxy for
the strength of civil society.