Policy

EPD actively works towards improving democracy support policies and advising on foreign policies that can reinforce democracy in the face of global challenges. Through our head office in Brussels, we play a key role in contributing to improving democracy support policies, working closely with EU institutions, European governments, and building civil society coalitions together with our partners.

We engage in advocacy on the following areas:

Democracy Innovation & Inclusion
Safeguarding Democracy
European Policies for Democracy
Democratic Principles in the Digital Sphere

Online Political Ads

Why is Commission proposing regulation on online political ads? What are the key issues at stake and who are the key-policy makers?

We have launched a webpage so you can stay informed on this key democracy issue!

Click here to learn more about Online Political Ads

Media Freedom in Europe

Free and independent press is a cornerstone of democratic systems and holds those accountable to account. In turn, accurate and independent information allows citizens to actively scrutinise political actors, make informed political choices and exercise their right to receive reliable information, which has an important impact on the exercise of other fundamental rights.

On this webpage, we provide you with all the elements you need to understand why legislation on media freedom is important in the EU, how the legislation process will unfold and what the different positions on the matter are.

Click here to learn more about media freedom

Media Freedom and Pluralism in the EU

Advocacy news

EPD assessment of the EMFA proposal

EPD’s assessment of the European Media Freedom Act proposal

The European Partnership for Democracy submitted a contribution to the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) proposed by the European Commission on 16 September 2022. Below, we provide a summary of the main points that should be taken into account to…

Joint statement on Article 17 of the European Media Freedom Act

Joint statement on Article 17 of the European Media Freedom Act

Together with a group of civil society organisations, we want to express our concern about Article 17 of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), putting forward the so-called “media privilege”. Article 17 implements a mechanism whereby the identification of media…

Public letter to the Czech Minister of European Affairs and the EU Ministers of European Affairs on the Regulation of Political Adverstising

The Czech Presidency presented a compromise text on the Regulation on the transparency and targeting of political advertising. This text poses risks to democracy and fundamental rights by: defining the free expression of political ideas and civic engagement as overlapping…

Reaction to the European Commission’s Proposal for a European Media Freedom Act

On 16 September 2022, Vice-President and Commissioner for Values and Transparency Věra Jourová and Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton presented the European Commission’s proposal for a European Media Freedom Act along with a recommendation on internal safeguards for…

10 recommendations for a European response to the Ukraine invasion

We are at a critical juncture for the future of the European Union and democracy globally. The Russian war of aggression shows that authoritarian rule is a global security problem for states, businesses and people everywhere. Democracy support needs to…

Civil society recommendations for an ambitious rule of law report in 2022

As civil society, media and journalist organisations, we’re greatly committed to the EU’s efforts to champion the rule of law in Europe. In September 2021, we collectively provided advice for strengthening the 2022 rule of law reporting cycle with a…

EPD Statement on the Commission’s 2022 Rule of Law Report

The European Union continued to face significant challenges to the rule of law in 2021. As a network organisation with 18 members based in Europe and engaged in democracy support, the rule of law crisis has been of fundamental importance…

Reviewing progress on the EDAP

One year after the adoption of the EDAP, the Commission’s track record is impressive: out of the 30 action points it set out for itself, the Commission has completed 13 and made progress on 11. While some Commission proposals and…

Reaction to online political ads regulation proposal

Today, Vice President and Commissioner for Values and Transparency Jourova presented the European Commission’s proposal for a regulation on the transparency and targeting of political advertising. Online political advertising is a relatively new phenomenon that has not been thoroughly regulated…