Reconfiguring EU Democracy Support. Towards a Sustained Demos in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood

We conducted 3 focus groups involving 100 citizens from the EU27 and some from its eastern neighbourhood (Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan). The first focus group, ‘What is Europe?’, will conclude by the end of 2023.

The aim of this project was to address the fragile state of democracy in Eastern Europe and provide ways forward for EU democracy support in its eastern neighbourhood. The project will take a deep dive into the full array of political and governance regimes in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood, from flawed democratization in some countries to democratic regression and even repressive authoritarianism in others.

The project aims to break new ground and propose a wholesale, transformative reset in conceptualising, policy-making, and implementing democracy in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood and to ensure the voices of marginalized groups are heard.

The first focus group, ‘What is Europe?’, will conclude by the end of 2023.

Stay tuned to read the outcome!