The fifth edition of the European Democracy Support Annual Review points to a mixed and often hesitant European response to mounting democratic challenges worldwide in 2025.
The inversion of US foreign policy from supporting democracy to backing autocracy dominated debates throughout 2025. There were many statements about the EU’s geopolitical salience as a democracy defender, but European governments were focused on bolstering their security and economic interests in this uncertain context, and in some cases, this stance led to clear-cut investment in democracy.
“Measured against the shock of an inversion in US policies, changes in European policies were significant but perhaps not as far-reaching as might have been expected or warranted.”
Key findings
- While a handful of European countries stepped in after USAID funding cuts, major donors – including France, the UK, and Germany – announced reduction to development and democracy aid.
- Despite turbulent geopolitical change, no major new democracy strategies were introduced in 2025.
- Europe increasingly prioritised defending democratic norms at home, while scaling back ambition abroad.
- The EU deepened cooperation with many autocratic regimes and declined to respond in any critical manner to many clear attacks on democratic norms.
What were the EU’s five best and worst moves for democracy?
The five clearest pro-democracy steps:
- Moldova: The EU supported Moldova to uphold a democratic election.
- Enlargement: Democracy concerns became more prominent in the EU enlargement process.
- Democratic conditionality: The EU took steps to strengthen democratic conditionality within the union via the rule of law under the new multiyear budget.
- DSA: The EU continued with application of the Digital Services Act despite pressure from US tech companies and the Trump administration.
- Democracy Shield: The EU launched the European Democracy Shield, which included advances and new measures.
The five worst developments for democracy:
- Palestine: The EU was equivocal in its support for Palestinian democratic self-determination and failed to rein in Israeli attacks.
- MFF: The democracy budget disappeared from the proposal for the EU’s next multiyear budget.
- Aid cuts: EU member states cut aid for democracy projects.
- Protests: The EU gave a weak response to multiple democracy protests across the world.
- Democracy Shield: The European Democracy Shield contained unaddressed weaknesses.
About the Annual Review
Published by the European Democracy Hub – a joint initiative of Carnegie Europe and the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), the European Democracy Support Annual Review provides a comprehensive overview of policies and initiatives implemented by the EU and European governments.
The European Democracy Support Annual Review is the flagship publication of the European Democracy Hub – a joint initiative of Carnegie Europe and the European Partnership for Democracy.
Cover photo: © Andrej Isakovic, Getty Images
