In 2024, the world witnessed a troubling continuation of democratic decline. While there were some positive democratic turnarounds, democracy indices signalled a growing trend towards autocratisation. The year was marked by the adoption of repressive laws that further restricted civic space in numerous countries, while the wars in Ukraine and Gaza prompted many governments to prioritise security over democratic protections.

In a year dominated by high-stakes elections in the EU and around the world, tensions increased over electoral outcomes and the surge of far right and illiberal populism. New leadership in the EU, the US, and the UK also brought forth fresh strategies, including efforts to support democracy globally. How have these various developments impacted Europe’s democracy support efforts, including its specific policies and initiatives?

 

European Democracy Support Annual Review 2024

Each year, the European Democracy Hub publishes a review of European democracy support policies. These reviews examine policies, strategies, and initiatives implemented at the EU level as well as by its member states and non-EU European countries active in democracy support such as Norway, Switzerland, and the UK. They provide insights into European efforts to defend and strengthen democracy both inside Europe and around the world.

This year marks the fourth edition of the review. Previous editions from 2023, 2022, and 2021 are available on Carnegie Europe’s website.

 

Launch event in Brussels

At the report launch event on 11 February 2025, lead author Richard Youngs presented key findings of the review, and prominent democracy experts discussed the current state and future of European democracy support.

Programme

09:00 – 09:30 – Registration and welcome coffee/breakfast

09:30 – 09:40 – Opening address by Martin Seychell, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) of the European Commission

09:40 – 09:50 – Keynote speech by Weronika Frydryszek, Representative of Poland to the Political and Security Committee (PSC) and Deputy Head of the Permanent Representation of Poland to the EU

09:50 – 10:05 – Presentation of key findings of the European Democracy Support Annual Review 2024 by Richard Youngs, Senior Fellow at Carnegie Europe and co-founder of the European Democracy Hub.

10:05 – 11:05 – Panel discussion on securitisation and democracy

  • Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania
  • Dr Benedetta Berti, Director of Policy Planning in the Secretary General at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
  • Dr Benjamin Tallis, Director of the Democratic Strategy Initiative (DSI)
  • Moderator: Méabh Mc Mahon, Senior anchor, Euronews

11:05 – 11:20 – Coffee break

11:20 – 11:50 – Panel conversation

  • Jerzy Pomianowski, Executive Director of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED)
  • Ambassador Olof Skoog, EU Special Representative for Human Rights
  • Moderator: Elene Panchulidze, Research Coordinator, European Partnership for Democracy (EPD)

11:50 – 12:00 – Closing remarks

 

Despite some positive developments, 2024 was a challenging year, raising serious concerns about the future of democracy support policies. The world is entering a new era. The acceleration of democratic erosion, even in long-established democracies, indicates that democracy can never be taken for granted. While European governments have been long-standing supporters of democracy globally, they also face challenges in protecting democracy at home. The US, historically an imperfect yet influential democratic model, is also shifting towards semi-authoritarianism. Meanwhile, major democracy donors are reassessing their international cooperation strategies with substantial cuts to democracy assistance budgets.

Despite these sobering trends, Europe must see this moment as a strategic opportunity. While investing in security is essential for maintaining stable democracies, true security cannot exist without democracy. Supporting democracy is a long-term commitment, often without immediate results, yet it remains both a moral imperative and a strategic necessity for Europe. The event underscored the urgent need for like-minded supporters of open and accountable governance to work together to defend and support democracy worldwide.

 

 

This event is co-hosted by the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Carnegie Europe, and the European Partnership for Democracy.

 

This event is organised with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the organiser and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.