Anu Juvonen, Executive Director of Demo Finland, a collaborative organisation of Finnish parliamentary parties and founding member of the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), was elected as the new President of EPD at the EPD board meeting held on Tuesday 24 September.
Anu Juvonen has more than 20 years of experience in democracy support and international development. She has worked on issues such as education, gender equality and good governance in Nepal, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka and has experience in the NGO sector, the private sector and government. From 2021 to 2024, Juvonen was seconded by Finland as Senior Advisor in the Division for Civil Society and Democratic Innovation in the Council of Europe’s Democracy Unit. She has been in Demo Finland since 2014.
Anu Juvonen steps into the role of President following the retirement of Thijs Berman from EPD member, NIMD. The European Partnership for Democracy network would like to thank Thijs for guiding the partnership from June 2023 until now, in particular for his key role in steering the growth of the partnership during that time.
Anu Juvonen takes over the presidency of the EPD at a time when democracy is under threat around the world. The trend of democratic backsliding applies both to autocratic states, many of which have become increasingly authoritarian, and to democratic states, which are experiencing a deterioration in various aspects of democratic governance. In the EU, while the presence of a whole chapter on democracy in Ursula von der Leyen’s political guidelines for the next EU Commission is positive, this always relates to democracy within the EU, but ignores support for democracy in other parts of the world. In other words, values at home and interests abroad.
Juvonen states that the future European Commission will have a major task in strengthening democracy in Europe and globally and integrating democracy support into all its policies.
“Democracy is increasingly challenged both in Europe and globally. That is why it is important not only to support democracy but also to be a vocal defender of democracy. EPD is a key actor in this, as it brings together 20 leading European democracy organisations with huge know-how, expertise and geographical coverage”, says Juvonen.
