European Endowment for Democracy (EED) Executive Director, Jerzy Pomianowski, presented the 2018 EED annual report “Supporting People Speaking Up For Democracy” at the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this week.

“This important opportunity makes me believe that flexible democracy support in the EU Neighbourhood and beyond remains an important priority to the European Parliament,” said Pomianowski. Reflecting on the success and impact of the Endowment since it celebrated its 5th anniversary in 2018, he added: “We can say based on many comments received that EED has become a well-recognised and a well-valued flexible democracy support mechanism.”

Beyond providing important highlights of the year, the report gives an overview of EED’s work since its inception in 2013. To date, EED received and read over 5000 requests for support and distributed 722 grants totalling almost €50 million in awards and funds. EED also organised around 100 events presenting the work and ideas of pro-democracy activists from more than 20 countries.

The EED responds to a context where actors for change in societies struggling for democratisation sometimes face obstacles in accessing EU funding. The EED aims to add value by offering a dedicated rapid and flexible funding mechanism for beneficiaries who are not supported, are insufficiently covered or face difficulties in obtaining support from EU financial instruments, in particular for reasons of legal personality, administrative requirements or eligibility criteria. Beneficiaries may include journalists, bloggers, non-registered NGOs, loosely organised or fledgling pro-democratic movements and political movements (including those in exile or from the diaspora), in particular when all of these actors operate in a very uncertain political context.

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Press Release

EED Report 2018

European Endowment for Democracy (EED)