We work to improve the evidence base for democracy support as a go-to source for research in Europe. Improving this evidence base is vital for progress in the impact of actual policies and programmes. In our work, we investigate some of the most pressing challenges to democracies worldwide.

The European Democracy Hub is our main research space. Our publications of the past few years have had a strong focus on democratic institutions and democratic innovations outside the West, with a view to stimulating democratic renewal in Europe.

Global Youth Participation Index

EPD is proud to introduce the Global Youth Participation Index (GYPI), a brand-new online platform that offers the most comprehensive global picture to date of how young people are participating in political, civic, and economic life. A first-of-its-kind global index that scores 141 countries across four key dimensions: Socio-Economic, Civic Space, Political Affairs and Elections.

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The current state of European democracy support

Democracy Support Annual Review 2025

EPD and Carnegie Europe’s research colleagues have teamed up to deliver a comprehensive review of the key players for European democracy support in 2025.

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Defending Global Civil Society

New approaches that might help protect a free and democratic civic space in this ever-more repressive period.

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China’s Development Playbook

A new Deep Dive explores how China’s evolving development cooperation across several thematic areas calls for closer scrutiny from European donors.

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Citizen Election Observers in an Era of Global Autocratisation

Citizen election observers legitimise elections, build public confidence, support democratic consolidation, and improve electoral administration. However, their work is increasingly challenged by the global rise of authoritarianism and major cuts to international democracy assistance. Under EPD’s project AHEAD Africa, we examines the increasingly threatened role of citizen election observers, while arguing that protecting and supporting citizen election observation must remain part of international efforts to promote democracy.

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Your one-stop-shop for democracy research

The European Democracy Hub acts as a hub for expertise on European democracy support, bringing together analysts and policymakers. The Hub serves as a resource to accompany the designing, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and learning of EU and member state democracy support policies.