Our Mission

Across the European Union and its neighbourhood, pro-democracy activists are working to defend fundamental rights, challenge authoritarianism, and build more just societies. While the EU is committed to standing with these movements, navigating EU support can be complex. This platform is designed to empower activists. Here, you can explore past pro-democracy efforts and access practical guidance on how to engage the EU in supporting pro-democracy movements. Whether you are seeking funding, political backing, or protection, you will find resources, tools, and real-world insights to help you engage effectively with EU institutions and allies. All information presented is based on research conducted by the EMBRACE project.

Do you want to learn more about promoting democratic progress in the European neighbourhood? Our podcast series delves into stories and challenges currently at the centre of global attention: what it means to work for democracy during war in Ukraine and Gaza, protests against democratic backsliding in Serbia, and what Tunisia looks like 14 years after the Arab Spring. In five episodes, you will hear from activists, advocates, and researchers from the EMBRACE consortium sharing their lessons learned and advice for people interested in getting involved.

EMBRACE Democracy Quiz

Maps of democracy in the European neighbourhood

Levels of liberal democracy

Explore the current state of liberal democracy across different regions and countries.

Evolution of democracy

Track how democratic institutions have evolved over time in different countries.

Financial aid flows

Visualize EU financial support flows to civil society organizations promoting democracy.

Success stories: EU support for democratic change from below through civil society mobilisation

This page showcases successful examples of direct or indirect support by the European Union (EU) for civil society-led efforts to mobilise against abuses of power and to advance democratic progress through advocacy, consultation, coalition-building and civic oversight.

The success stories are clustered into five types of financial, technical, diplomatic, discursive and strategic support, demonstrating how EU backing enables civil society to drive meaningful democratic change from below.

Financial Support

Success Story Ukraine
Success Story Georgia

Georgia & Ukraine

Pre-revolution support to anti-corruption efforts (2000-2003)

In early 2000s Georgia, the EU provided technical and financial assistance to NGOs working on governance, transparency and anti-corruption, such as the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) and the Liberty Institute. EU actors also pressured the government to form anti-corruption councils with participation from civil society. Such measures helped CSOs build organisational capacity and credibility. However, these councils were often ineffective or symbolic, as the ruling elites were unwilling to implement substantial reforms. When the government failed to act, civil society mobilised popular support behind the opposition, contributing to a political shift. The EU's core funding combined with technical support bolstered NGOs' ability to produce policy ideas, educate the public, and engage strategically. This positioned civil society as a key actor in both policy influence and broader political transformation, leading to the 2003 Rose Revolution and subsequent structural reforms.

Post-revolution support to anti-corruption efforts (2014)

In Ukraine, the EU provided core funding to the Reanimation Package of Reforms (through the Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law), a broad coalition of civic initiatives which played a key role in driving change after the 2014 Revolution of Dignity. A concrete outcome was the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), a specialised body targeting high-level corruption, which brings together a broad spectrum of actors representing civil society, emerging political elites (i.e. newly elected MPs), and international partners. This broad synergy, made possible by a strong public demand for fighting corruption, helped transform 'the energy of protests into the energy of reforms', and contributed to democratic institution-building. In particular, EU support enabled CSOs to survive and strengthen their position, to become more influential, and to advocate for change more effectively. As a result of this empowerment, they were included in oversight processes. Despite ongoing political interference, NABU's establishment marked a structural gain in Ukraine's accountability infrastructure.

Technical Assistance

Success Story Armenia
Success Story Tunisia

Armenia & Tunisia

Velvet Revolution in Armenia 2018

Before and after Armenia's 2018 Velvet Revolution, the EU invested in CSOs through long-term capacity-building. This enabled experienced NGOs to step up as credible actors in the democratic opening. Through dialogue schemes such as the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum or the EU Advisory Group to the Republic of Armenia, the EU also supported government-civil society coordination by creating consultative platforms, offering expert advice, sponsoring training schemes on policy advocacy, and facilitating legal and policy drafting. This dual-track engagement helped align technical reforms between bottom-up and top-down actors, resulting in a new anti-corruption strategy and legislation. EU support strengthened civil society's ability to contribute constructively and ensured their participation in institutional reforms central to Armenia's democratisation.

Support to feminist mobilisation for gender rights in the new constitution (2012-2014)

The EU provided crucial technical backing to feminist organisations during Tunisia's constitutional drafting phase (2012–2014) following the Jasmin Revolution. This included funding for core operations, training sessions, international conferences, and expert consultations. With EU support, groups like the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (ATFD) built coalitions, lobbied effectively, and mobilised large-scale protests. This led to the removal of the controversial "complementarity" clause (relegating women to a secondary role within the family structure) and the enshrinement of gender equality in the 2014 Constitution. EU assistance strengthened the legitimacy and influence of feminist actors, integrating them into policy-making spaces, and reinforcing their role in shaping democratic reforms related to gender rights.

Diplomatic Support

Success Story Serbia
Success Story Belarus

Serbia & Belarus

Mediation role facilitating subsequent reforms in Preševo Valley (2001)

Following ethnic tensions and armed rebellion in Serbia's Preševo Valley, the EU deployed a small monitoring mission to provide independent reporting and help de-escalate tensions. Combined with statements and quiet diplomacy by EU officials, this mission played a useful mediation role on the ground, backing a negotiated settlement between ethnic Albanian communities and Serbian authorities. Although not directly framed as support to civil society, the process enabled local civic actors to emerge and advocate for liberal reforms. EU-backed frameworks helped embed minority rights and community-level stability, enabling CSOs to influence policy through consultative mechanisms. This case shows how EU diplomacy, even when not explicitly labelled as "democracy support," can create an enabling environment for grassroots civic engagement.

Leveraging democratic forces in exile (2020-2024)

After the 2020 Belarus election crisis, civil society actors and opposition leaders formed the Coordination Council and other democratic structures in exile. The EU provided diplomatic recognition, political engagement, and organisational support to these groups. The EU also shifted funding from local authorities to democratic forces and helped legitimise them as alternatives to Lukashenka's regime. Thanks to this support and linkages with EU institutions, Belarusian CSOs and opposition parties were able to institutionalise the political infrastructure of democratic forces, maintain morale, gain international visibility, enhance their advocacy capabilities, and sustain international pressure on the regime. EU backing also enabled these actors to survive and organise a democratic representation abroad, while remaining credible and politically relevant in Belarus, contributing to long-term democratic aspirations and resilience in the face of authoritarian repression.

Discursive Alignment

Success Story North Macedonia
Success Story Lebanon

North Macedonia & Lebanon

Support to anti-corruption mobilisation (2016)

In response to widespread political corruption, the EU supported civil society in North Macedonia through funding, training, and public diplomacy. During the 2016 protests, civil society groups mobilised against a presidential pardon of political elites accused of wrongdoing. A public report commissioned by the European Commission and based on consultations with CSOs exposed the state’s systemic weaknesses related to rule of law. The report subsequently served as the intellectual basis for all the protest movements to formulate their requests. The EU’s alignment with civil society actors helped elevate their demands and gave weight to their calls for accountability. EU diplomatic pressure, combined with local civic mobilisation and strategic messaging supported by EU-backed media and advocacy efforts, forced the president to rescind the pardons. This case underscores how EU political support can amplify civil society pressure to achieve institutional change.

Building on civil society expertise to monitor electoral democracy (2022)

Lebanese CSOs have long advocated for reforms related to transparency, accountability, media access, electoral law, and voter education. Ahead of the 2022 parliamentary elections, the EU electoral observation mission (EOM) engaged in extensive consultations with a wide range of Lebanese NGOs, advocacy groups, and election observers to understand local concerns. During the election, they collaborated in their observatory work with domestic watchdog groups such as the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE). The insights of CSOs were incorporated into both the preliminary findings and the final report of the EOM, enabling civil society to directly influence its recommendations. These included key demands such as a reform of the Supervisory Commission for Elections, improved access to media and advertising rules by all candidates, a better enforcement of campaign finance laws, and improving access to persons with disabilities. This synergy of interests increased the legitimacy of the mission and built mutual trust. In turn, it enabled CSOs to use the report as a tool for advocacy and accountability, and gave then a stronger platform to push for reforms both domestically and in dialogue with international partners and donors.

Convening & Bridge-Building

Success Story Tunisia
Success Story Ukraine

Tunisia & Ukraine

Support for the transitional justice movement (2011–2013)

In the wake of Tunisia's 2011 revolution, the EU supported bottom-up efforts to establish a transitional justice framework. Groups like Avocats Sans Frontières received core organisational support, including funding for a full-time coalition coordinator, enabling coordination across a dispersed coalition. EU involvement also included technical advice, convenings, and advocacy resources. This helped civil society shape the design of the Truth and Dignity Commission, which became a central institution for transitional justice. While some issues were excluded from the final framework, the EU's financial and convening power significantly bolstered civil society's ability to institutionalise democratic accountability mechanisms. Source: EMBRACE Working Paper 1

Support for CSO advocacy on judicial reform (2014-2018)

In post-Maidan Ukraine, the EU facilitated judicial reform by offering civil society and political elites extensive technical assistance via the Pravo-Justice project. This included expert input on legal frameworks and alignment with European methodologies. Civil society actors, empowered by this support, played a key advocacy and watchdog role, helping push reforms such as new judicial legislation. Though full reform was not achieved, EU-backed alignment between bottom-up and top-down actors enabled tangible institutional change. The EU's role was crucial in equipping civil society with expertise and legitimacy to drive reform in a politically volatile environment. Source: EMBRACE Policy Brief 5

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If you want to share own experiences and success stories of pro-democracy activism and EU support, please send us an email at
embrace[at]berghof-foundation.org.