Key info
Location: Worldwide
Themes: Peace and governance
Programme duration: July 2022 - June 2027
Total budget: €15 753 206
- EU contribution: €13 900 900
Objectives
The Team Europe Democracy Initiative (TED) will enhance evidence-based support for democracy worldwide.
The initiative will establish and strengthen networks among EU institutions, EU Members States, think tanks, academia, civil society organisations and other like-minded organisations in the areas of democracy support, human rights and other related areas. It will produce and share best practices, lessons learned, approaches and tools on democracy support.
TED will also provide technical support for joint activities by EU Delegations and EU Member States in partner countries.
The Team Europe Democracy Initiative fulfils EU policies to advance democracy, as well as the rule of law, and the universality of human rights and fundamental freedoms; and to reinforce values of respect for human dignity, freedom and gender equality as set out in the Treaty on European Union.
The action aims to develop a common response to challenges to democracy, based on a close cooperation between the EU institutions and EU Member States, according to the Council Conclusions on Democracy of October 2019. It is in line with the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024, which aims to consistently promote human rights and democracy in all areas of EU external action.
Implementation
The Team Europe Democracy Initiative has three main pillars
- research on democracy support best practices and policies
- the creation of the ‘TED Network’
- providing expertise at country level
The TED Network will facilitate exchanging information and engaging in strategic dialogue. It will enhance cross-regional collaboration on democracy support and will support joint initiatives on thematic priorities. The three priority themes are: accountability and the rule of law, political and civic participation, and media and the digital domain.
Support to selected partner countries will be provided through a pool of experts. The experts will support EU Delegations to operationalise and develop actions, with the aim of strengthening the coordination and complementarity of European interventions for democracy support.
Expected results
TED is expected to improve awareness of democratic backsliding and human rights violations around the world, and to contribute to promoting and protecting democracy worldwide.