The European Democracy Support Annual Review 2023 is published by the European Democracy Hub, a joint initiative of Carnegie Europe and EPD. The Annual Review explores the challenges affecting democratic politics in an effort to support democratic governance in Europe and around the world. We warmly invite you to join us for the launch and discussion of our 2023 findings in the third edition of our flagship report.
2023 saw European democracy support lose some of its political momentum. While some notable new strategies and policy interventions prioritised support for democratic norms, the European Union (EU) and individual countries were overall less ambitious than what was observed in the European Democracy Hub initiative’s 2021 and 2022 annual reviews.
The European Democracy Hub’s flagship report examines contextual factors influencing European democracy policies, the evolution of EU and national strategies, and particularly, their connection to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It also details European democracy funding, the use of sanctions, and the role of democracy support in EU security missions. The comprehensive understanding of democracy support encompasses foreign policy commitments, aid projects, sanctions decisions, political conditionality, and the integration of democracy factors into security policies.
On 27 February 2024, we invite you to join us in discussing these evolving developments and their implications on the year behind us. Register now to secure your attendance.
Programme
09:30–10:00: Registration & welcome
10:00–10:15: Presentation of the European Democracy Support Annual Review findings by Richard Youngs, senior fellow at Carnegie Europe & EDH Co-founder
10:15-10:20 Address by Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head of the Center for Civil Liberties Ukraine & Nobel Peace Prize 2022
10:30–11:20: Democracy support in times of crisis
2023 was marked by violent conflicts and instability across the world. Russia’s continued war in Ukraine, conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as between the government of Israel and Hamas, were especially consequential for the EU. In the Annual Review of 2023, we argued that the proliferation of conflicts worldwide cut across democracy support policies.
Speakers:
- Lisa Musiol, Head of EU Affairs, International Crisis Group
- Bruno Macaes, Former Secretary of State for European Affairs in Portugal.
- Sophie in ‘t Veld, MEP, Renew Europe (joining online)
- Patrick Costello, former EU official & member of EPD’s advisory board
Moderated by Ken Godfrey, Executive Director, EPD & co-founder of European Democracy Hub
11:30-12:20 EU Enlargement and European Democracy Support
This session explores democracy support in light of the recent debates on enlargement. What are the challenges the EU faces when it comes to enlargement? And what does this mean for the future of democracy in candidate countries? How should the EU best support democracy in new candidate countries?
Speakers:
- Daniela Morari, Ambassador of Moldova in Belgium, Head of Mission to the EU
- Bidzina Javakhishvili, Deputy Head of Mission to the EU, Mission of Georgia to the EU
- Dr. Giselle Bosse, Associate Professor and Jean Monnet Chair in EU International Relations at Maastricht University
- Allan Jones, Head of Unit, Rule of Law, Security and Governance, Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations
Moderated by Tinatin Tsertsvadze, senior policy analyst at the Open Society Foundations.
12:20–12:30: Closing Remarks by Ken Godfrey, Executive Director, EPD & co-founder of European Democracy Hub
12:30 – 13:30: Lunch & refreshments
This event was funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.