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

Advocacy news

Joint Statement: Civil Society Recommendations for the Commission on the Rule of Law Report

As issues concerning the rule of law continue to threaten the fundamental rights of EU citizens, the Commission has released the 2021 Rule of Law Report, offering an overview of the current developments in the Member States. Recognising the key…

Joint Statement: Summit for Democracy

The global Summit for Democracy represents an opportunity for partners across the globe to reaffirm the importance of democratic governance after 15 years of democratic decline. Given the internal challenges facing democracies of all stripes and the challenges on the…

The EDAP: a welcome step in the right direction

Following a public consultation and various exchanges with civil society and member states over the last year, European Vice President Vera Jourova has published the European Democracy Action Plan (EDAP). The EDAP restates the EU’s commitment to democracy, the rule…

EPD Joins Call for Putting Meaningful Transparency at the Heart of the Digital Services Act

EPD has joined an initiative led by Algorithm Watch and the European Policy Centre that calls for putting meaningful transparency at the heart of the Digital Services Act. The statement provides three main recommendations that together can help achieve greater…

Joint statement: 5 demands for an ambitious EDAP

A joint statement with 5 demands for the European Democracy Action Plan was drafted and endorsed by a coalition of 46 organisations working on democracy, human rights, media and the rule of law in Europe. Together, they demand the European…

European Democracy Action Plan input paper

Amidst the immense socio-economic and political fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU commitment to and support of democracy is more important than ever. In 2019, the European Commission set out plans for a new push for European democracy which…

Press Release: Civil society coalition calls for meaningful transparency on all ads

A coalition of 31 civil society organisations and experts has published a joint statement calling for universal advertising transparency by default, as a prerequisite for any measures dealing with online political ads. At a time when the European Commission is…

Statement to European Governments ahead of European Council Summit

Members of the European Partnership for Democracy have released a statement regarding the situation in Belarus, ahead of the European Council Summit on Belarus on 19 August. In the statement below, members call upon European governments and institutions to strengthen…

A Call to Defend Democracy

More than 500 political, civil leaders, Nobel Laureates and pro-democracy institutions who have signed an open letter to defend democracy, warning that the freedoms we cherish are under threat from governments that are using the crisis to tighten their…