European Union launches Global Team Europe Democracy initiative

The European Commission and EU Member States are launching a global Team Europe Democracy initiative, Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen announced today.

Speaking at the launch of the Global State of Democracy Report 2021, Commissioner Urpilainen said: “As the world’s biggest supporter of democracy, Team Europe has a great responsibility as well as an opportunity. Together with our partners, including civil society, we can build an inclusive international alliance to promote democracy. We can invest in global efforts to increase the rule of law and accountability, supporting inclusive and transparent governance. And we can engage the world’s change makers: youth.”

During the period 2014-2019, EU Member States and institutions spent €14 billion in support of democracy in partner countries. This makes Team Europe the world’s leading donor to democracy.

The Team Europe Democracy initiative aims to provide a robust and coordinated response to key components of the global democracy deficit, a deficit that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated.

The initiative will operationalise an information exchange network, and support global and local projects with research and expertise. It will help develop common approaches to transparency and accountability, and improve support to partners in transitioning to democracy. The initiative has three focus areas:

• Accountability and Rule of Law

Anti-corruption, rule of law, access to justice, support to initiatives to increase transparency of government data

• Political and Civic Participation

Women’s political participation, youth political participation and youth civil society activism, political party systems, parliamentary support, electoral integrity, local democratic governance

• Media and Digital

Safety, security and professional skills of journalists, digital transition of media, human rights and fundamental freedoms in cyberspace

Eleven EU Member States are currently supporting this initiative: Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Team Europe Democracy is open to all Member States.