In 2024, the cracks in Europe’s democratic foundations became harder to ignore. Autocratic forces gained ground, disinformation blurred electoral truths, and funding for civil society came under growing pressure.
In the face of these challenges, our 2024 Annual Report shows what’s possible when we invest in democratic resilience. From exposing political scandals in Hungary to holding Big Tech accountable, our partners demonstrated the vital role civil society plays in defending democracy. Read about their successes, along with what we learned, what changed, and why the fight for democracy is more urgent than ever.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 shattered lives and sent shockwaves through Europe’s democracies. Our grantee partners rose to the multiple challenges this threw up. They worked tirelessly to stand in solidarity with Ukraine’s beleaguered civil society: when European governments failed to meet the vast need Russia’s aggression created, they helped fill the void.
Our grantee partners also upheld democracy in Europe in other ways, including by shaping EU digital policies, producing vital public interest journalism and by protecting civic space, sometimes in the face of relentless pressure.
Democracy eroded, media freedoms were curtailed and pluralism shrank in many European countries in 2021. From Slovenia to Belarus, from Poland to Hungary and elsewhere, governments clamped down on journalists and civil society.
Civil society and independent media pushed back, expressing their solidarity across Europe’s border in numerous ways and acting in unison to strengthen fundamental freedoms and democracy through the continent, as documented in this year’s Annual Report.
The Covid-19 pandemic upended peoples’ lives, and underlined why strong, resilient civil societies, independent fact-based journalism and a healthy digital sphere are vital for democracy.
Despite the immense challenges, our grantee partners remained committed to their work: countering restrictive measures, exposing wrongdoing, engaging with decision-makers and raising the voices of the marginalised.
In 2019, democracy was under pressure in parts of Europe. It was also the year in which our grantee partners engaged in an increasing number of initiatives to defend it.
Throughout the year, our partners drove inspiring campaigns, created fresh ideas and tools, and networked and strategised across Europe’s borders, working towards the common goal of strengthening democracy in Europe.
