New article from the @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu: "Democratic Shockwaves in Southern Africa": A look back at how the 2024 elections caused political shifts in the Southern Africa region. Read more ⤵️ europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu/democratic-s...

"Young people are not disengaged – they are redefining #participation." 💡 A must-read from @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu on the lessons structured systems of civic participation can learn from the way young people mobilise. 👇

📖 The US has shifted towards engaging with Lukashenka's regime in #Belarus, a move that threatens to dismantle years of coordinated pressure. The EU must not repeat the mistake of re-engagement, instead should sustain sanctions and double down on support for democratic forces. Continue reading 👇

💬 The integrity of Moldova's parliamentary election is crucial for the country’s democratic future and should give momentum to ongoing democratic reforms. Read our latest spotlight and learn about Moldova’s recent democratic reforms and remaining internal vulnerabilities ⤵️

📖 This Sunday’s parliamentary #election is a decisive test - one that could determine the durability of democratic progress and influence #Moldova’s EU accession prospects. Read the latest spotlight 👇

🌍 Over half the world is under 30, how many shape the decisions that affect their lives? Today EPD launches the first Global Youth Participation Index (GYPI), measuring how youth engage in public life worldwide. 🔍 Explore it here: www.gypi.epd.eu #YouthParticipation #GYPI

💬 "Building whole-of-society resilience means rethinking the democracy-security nexus as a two-way street, asking not only how to secure democracies from external threats but also how to streamline democratic principles within security policies [...]" - ✍️ Federica D'Alessandra

"Authoritarian efficiency is a myth; centralized power without accountability leads to failure." www.journalofdemocra...

#Hungary: the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), which will hold its General Meeting in Budapest on 2-3 June, strongly condemns the bill tabled on Tuesday by the ruling party to crack down on independent media and NGOs that receive funding from abroad. europeanjournalists.org/blog/2025/05...

Opportunity alert: Apply now for the Accelerators and Rising Stars Mentorships to grow your participatory democracy project. Deadline: July 1, 2025 Includes training, mentorship, and funding. With @nets4dem.eu and global partners. Apply here: www.peoplepowered.org/news-content...

Great to be at the Copenhagen Democracy summit! Looking forward to our session with the @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu later today! #CDS2025

Discover our latest deep dive looking at civic movements and what these mean for democracy 👇

CItizens do not often vote with the intention of dismantling their own democracies. "Voters...were in many cases choosing well-known, experienced political figures who were promising to reform democracy, not dismantle it." www.journalofdemocra...

📖 | While autocratisation remains a pressing concern, there’s a growing focus on building democratic resilience. We asked leading experts to reflect on how this concept should be understood and its significance for future political developments 👇

🆕| In their latest for @carnegieendowment.org, Thomas Carothers & McKenzie Carrier examine 4 ongoing efforts at re-democratization. What provisional insights about democratic recovery arise from these cases? Read the full paper here👇

#Programmes 🧩 💭 What democracy do we want for 2040? The answer to this question cannot but include #youth! 📢 @youthdecide2040.bsky.social is looking for participants for regional workshops to think and co-design the future of European #democracy. Have a look below! ⬇️

🎉 This week's BB ⬇️ 📘 Rule of Law: More Action, Less Reaction 📝 Elections in Gabon | @theconversation.com 🎙️ Digital Rights = Human Rights: Why It Matters 📍 The US Funding Freeze and Its Impact on Global Civil Society | 7 May 💼 @article19.bsky.social is hiring! 📬 ow.ly/Xwpk50V7vpa

#SaveTheDate 📌 2025 will be a turning point for #democracy. Events such as the effects of the Trump presidency and rising citizen protests call into question the future strength of democratic institutions and principles. 🧵

#Policy💬 🔴 Democracy faces global threats. 📌 The EU starts negotiations over its next seven-year budget and, as a community of democracy support organisations, we outline six principle recommendations to bolster democracy aid. Access our joint statement 🖇️ epd.eu/content/uplo...

We just launched our Joint Statement with democracy partners asking the EU for sufficient funding to support democracy and safeguard a democratic and free world through the next EU multiyear budget (MFF). Please support and share further!

🔍 Pause. Think. Check. Do you check the facts before you share content on social media? On International Fact-Checking Day, learn how to check that the content you post and read online is accurate with four simple steps. 🔗 More tips on how to avoid disinformation 👉 europa.eu/!dmfBXm

The EU's cautious response to Brazil's potential democratic opening in 2022 revealed the limits of the union's capacity to take decisive action, argues @oliverstuenkel.bsky.social. Read his analysis in @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu's new report👇

The suspension and reduction of US democracy funding have created a shortfall of around $2 billion per year. It is clear that Europe alone cannot compensate for this gap, but there are still strategic actions Europe can take during these challenging times. Continue reading 👇

📚 While the world continues to suffer democratic regression, some countries have seen pro-democracy developments. How has the EU responded to moments of democratic opportunity? Our report explores 6 case studies on Brazil, Montenegro, Guatemala, Thailand, Zambia, & Bangladesh. 👉 ow.ly/lPAn50Vmgfo

How do we protect democracy from foreign interference and manipulation? Together with 49 orgs, we are adding our voice to the 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 (𝗘𝗗𝗦)🛡️, the Commission new initiative to safeguard democracy by focusing on information integrity. Check our set of recommendations for the EDS! 👇

📖 After 8 years in power, Poland’s Law and Justice (PiS) party lost its majority in 2023. Strong civic mobilisation drove the change, but the EU also pressured PiS over democratic backsliding. How did the EU's sanctions and legal action help? Learn more 👇

📖 As Big Tech uses its power to avoid compliance with new EU regulations, what can the EU do to protect democratic values? Effective enforcement is necessary not only to ensure compliance but also to safeguard democracy from the threats of disinformation and hate speech. Continue reading 👇

Save the date and join us at our EPD Annual Conference! More details below👇

🎉 This week's BB ⬇️ 📘Feminism and Safety of Journalists | @article19.bsky.social 📝Filling the USAID Gap | @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu 🎙️The Right Against Rights in Latin America 📌Gender-Sensitive Impact Assessments of Legislation | 14 Mar | @wfd.org 💼 We are hiring! 📬 ow.ly/Xwpk50V7vpa

With the news that most USAID grants are now canceled, here is something we wrote with my former colleague Sarah Repucci on the impact & some ways Europe could step up:

🎉 This week's BB ⬇️ 📘 China’s Digital Silk Road | @article19.bsky.social 📝 Ukraine’s EU Path Amid War | @europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu 🎙️ Culture War Politics Could Pave the Way for Pan-American Trumpism 📍AI Against Hate and Misinformation | 13 Mar | ALDA Europe 💼 ALDA is hiring! 📬 ow.ly/Xwpk50V7vpa

It’s time we rearm, reequip and stand ready for Europe’s defence. We will use every lever we have – from adapting fiscal rules for defence spending, to mobilising our EU Budget, to new loans for joint procurement of equipment. We must also step up our support to Ukraine #EUCO

🟩 STATUS CHANGE: Our 2025 #FreedomInTheWorld report upgraded Bhutan from Partly Free to Free. Bhutan's freedom score improved by 5 points as the country's new government further consolidated a long democratic reform process. More details: freedomhouse.org/report/freed...

💬 “President Trump’s accusation that President Zelenskyy is a 'dictator without elections' is unfounded. Ukraine remains deeply committed to democracy and its government has implemented many political and rule-of-law reforms even while fighting off an invasion.” - Giselle Bosse and Iryna Fedoriv

The most common form of election violence documented by #FreedomInTheWorld was attacks on candidates, occurring in 20 countries. Voting places were attacked in 14, and violence during election-related protests took place in 11. Our breakdown: freedomhouse.org/report/freed...

Despite its uneven implementation and results, conditionality remains the most powerful tool in the EU’s #ruleoflaw toolbox. The next MFF serves as a good opportunity to integrate it in a more coherent manner into the EU budget. New by @zecsaky.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/4kjDFek

🇺🇦 Amid 3 years of war, Ukraine has made progress towards meeting the EU accession criteria. However, the war has made it difficult to implement oversight mechanisms, creating challenges for transparency, press freedom, and anti-corruption efforts. Continue reading 👇 ow.ly/Wuok50V6Gkg

#Research 💡 Amid the intensifying conflict dynamics, what tendencies in European democracy support were seen in 2024? The 4th edition of the Annual Review presents how democracy support policies were applied at the EU level and in European countries. Download the report 👇 ow.ly/YwLr50V6JZC

#EPDNetwork🌐 🇺🇦 Three years ago, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. EPD stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, who continue to fight for their fundamental rights and their freedom. Explore how the EPD’s community supports Ukraine 🖇️ epd.eu/epd-members-... #StandForUkraine

🔍 How did geopolitical developments shape European countries' democracy support policies in 2024? What were the EU's best and worst moves for democracy? Check out the 4th edition of the European Democracy Support Annual Review 👇 carnegieendowment.org/research/202...

📣The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index is OUT! And the results are alarming: the EU’s average score has fallen to 62. With the rule of law being eroded in multiple member states, it’s not surprising that we’re seeing country scores decline across the EU. How did your country do? #CPI2024

🎙️The launch of our 4th European Democracy Support Annual Review is starting right now. @epd.eu's Executive Director @kenlcg.bsky.social sets the stage for the discussion and welcomes our speakers and participants. @poland25eu.bsky.social @carnegieeurope.bsky.social

While we cannot predict what democracy in Europe will look like in 2040, we can imagine it. 👋 We are @youthdecide2040.bsky.social, a European research project funded by #HorizonEU which brings together diverse voices to co-create visions and strategies for strengthening democratic governance.

• Join a network of 4,500 Citizen Jurors from all Council of Europe member states and help strengthen democracy today.

Let’s look at the implications of the US funding freeze on international democracy support and what this means for the EU. 🧵

#Research 💡 🗞️ The 4th edition of the European Democracy Support Annual Review is now out! How did global geopolitical shifts shape European countries' democracy support policies in 2024? What were the EU's best and worst moves for democracy? Explore here ➡️ carnegieendowment.org/research/202...

🎉We’re proud to be part of AHEAD - a pan-African project working to enhance electoral integrity & civil CSO engagement across the continent. Where we contribute through advocacy training & capacity-building! 🚨AHEAD's website is live now - check it out ⬇️ ow.ly/5aUb50UPgwb

📚 The 4th edition of the European Democracy Support Annual Review is out! ▪️How did European democracy policies evolve in 2024? ▪️What were the EU’s best and worst moves for democracy? Read now 🔗 carnegieendowment.org/research/202...

Have you checked EPD's latest #BeyondBallots newsletter? This weekly newsletter is a collection of the latest news, research, events and jobs on everything democracy

What will US democracy support look like during the second Trump Presidency? “The picture is sobering, though not completely dark.” argues Thomas Carothers. Read his commentary 👇 europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu/prospects-fo...