Five partners of the Global Democracy Coalition, a coalition of organisations dedicated to supporting democracy in Europe and all other regions of the world, has promoted the signature of a statement entitled A Call to Defend Democracy: 10 Priorities for the EU.
The statement, developed by the European Endowment for Democracy, European Network of Political Foundations, European Partnership for Democracy, International IDEA, and Open Government Partnership, highlights the importance of the European Parliament elections, scheduled for June 6-9, in reaffirming the European Union’s commitment to democratic values and its role as a driving force in democratic development in an increasingly authoritarian world.
The statement has been endorsed by a number of prominent democracy organisations and political and civic leaders from around the world, including Sine Qua Non.
As the statement highlights, the majority of people worldwide consider democracy to be the optimal form of government. However, a growing number of factors, including socio-economic inequalities, corruption, polarisation, disinformation and also the climate crisis and disruptive digital technologies, have led to a decline in satisfaction with democratic institutions in many countries. Concurrently, there have been significant geopolitical shifts, and there has been a notable increase in the influence and coordination of authoritarian regimes. The global conflict has also led to an increase in migration, energy shortages and trade disruptions, as well as significant investment in defence for many years to come. For the majority of countries around the world, the global erosion of democracy represents a significant threat to their security.
The EU has established itself as a global leader in the field of democratic support, offering expertise and guidance to countries worldwide. For decades, the EU has been a leading promoter of democratic values, human rights and the rule of law across all continents. The EU and its member states are currently the largest providers of democracy support globally. Despite these efforts, over the past few years several EU countries have experienced an increase in the influence of anti-democratic political actors, accompanied by a decline in the implementation of fundamental democratic principles, rights, and the rule of law. These pressures not only have the effect of undermining the EU’s founding democratic values, but also damage the credibility of its efforts to strengthen democracy around the world.
Despite the internal challenges the EU currently faces in relation to the rule of law, it remains an indispensable actor in upholding universal democratic values, such as human rights and accountable governance. As the statement makes clear, EU institutions have a historic responsibility to uphold the values of democracy, peace, sustainable development and multilateralism. This responsibility extends to addressing the challenges facing democracy globally, as well as within the EU’s own borders.
The statement maintains that is imperative to reinforce democratic foundations in European Member States to effectively counteract challenges such as the rise of extremism, election interference, the proliferation of manipulative information, and threats to journalists. Furthermore, safeguarding democracy at home maintains the EU’s legitimacy abroad. The statement sets out ten key priorities for the Union’s policy agenda, with a particular focus on strengthening democracy and the rule of law within the EU.
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About the Global Democracy Coalition
https://globaldemocracycoalition.org/
A Call to Defend Democracy: 10 Priorities for the EU
May 2024