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European Endowment For Democracy

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European Endowment For Democracy

The European Endowment for Democracy is an independent, grant-making organisation fostering democracy and human rights in the EU Neighbourhood & beyond.

The European Endowment for Democracy (EED) is an independent grant-making organisation, established by the European Union (EU) and EU member states to foster democracy in the European neighbourhood (Eastern Partnership - EaP - countries and the Middle East and North Africa - MENA region) and beyond. EED's goal is to provide flexible support to democracy activists, complementing other EU and member

state democracy support programmes. It is a demand-driven organisation that bases its support on a principle of fostering - not imposing - democracy and facilitating local initiatives. EED's partners and grantees are dedicated individuals, human rights and political activists, pro-democratic movements, independent media outlets and journalists.

01/06/2026

Congratulations to EED partner Peace of Art, for receiving the International Bremen Peace Award 2026 from Stiftung die schwelle - Contributions to Peace, in the category "Pioneering Peace Work".

The award honors people and organisations that set a good example in their work for Peace, Justice and the Integrity of Creation.

“Having our work for peace and dignity recognised in this way is a profound honour – not only for me personally, but for all the artists, young people, children and communities who are part of Peace of Art. We see this award as a powerful confirmation that our peace work can bring about real and lasting change.” says Mahdi Yahya, founder and chairman of the Peace of Art organisation.

Read more about Peace of Art's work: https://democracyendowment.eu/stories/peace-of-art

Read more about the winners: https://dieschwelle.de/en/peace-award-2026/mahdi-yahya

28/05/2026

Anna Matvienko and Nika Yegorova launched Dnipro.media in 2024 as an independent media focused on accountability.

Before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Anna led SEO teams in Berlin. Unsettled by the sense of apathy inside Europe, she decided to return to her home city, Dnipro.

She began volunteering, raising funds, gathering supplies, supporting the war effort in any way she could. She was struck by the lack of access and transparency from public authorities.

“If people don’t have information,” Anna says, “they don’t have power.”

Anna and Nikas's vision for Dnipro Media was as an independent platform that explains how the city works. Despite the many pressures and challenges posed by local officials, they have persisted in their work, combining investigative reporting and storytelling.

Today they organise events, host discussions, and experiment constantly. The goal is not just to inform, but to activate. “We call it: a polite way to make people act,” Anna explains.

Today, Dnipro Media is redrawing the boundaries of what's possible in a city where independent journalism was almost non-existent.

This initiative was supported thanks to the contribution of the European Union to EED.

Read more: https://democracyendowment.eu/stories/dnipro-media

21/05/2026

In the city of Diyarbakır, Mordem was founded on the philosophy that cultural expression is a human right, and that art should be accessible to everyone regardless of background, income level or location. This is how democracy comes to life through the language of art.

“We believe one of the best ways to advance the world we envision, one grounded in fundamental rights and freedoms, is through art,” says Dilek Akyapı, Mordem’s project coordinator

The group was established in 2017. Its home base is an arts complex in Diyarbakır with a 160-seat hall, dance studio, sculpture workshop and music classrooms. Their work transcends theatre, combining it with social work and community building.

“The more we act collectively, the more we are together, the stronger we become,” says Barış Işık, one of Mordem's founders.

Today, with a team of 25 instructors and 60 volunteers, they do a bit of everything: theatre, arts workshops, drama therapy, dance, film screenings, festivals, ecology and cultural heritage preservation.

Read more: https://democracyendowment.eu/stories/mordem

18/05/2026

On 13 May, the European Endowment for Democracy and the National Endowment for Democracy hosted the biannual Transatlantic Democracy Support Dialogue (TDSD).`

Created to strengthen cooperation between democracy support actors across Europe and the Atlantic, the Dialogue brings together foundations, experts, pro-democracy organisations and EU representatives to exchange perspectives and shape joint approaches.

This edition focused on strategy and messaging for democracy support, including discussions on the European Democracy Shield, the next EU budget, and regional developments in Syria and Ukraine.

At a time of growing geopolitical complexity, stronger cooperation is essential to advancing and protecting democratic values. We are grateful to all participants who joined us online and in person – and especially pleased to welcome colleagues from Canada for the first time.

13/05/2026

Factor TV reaches tens of millions of viewers across digital platforms, making it one of the most widely followed independent outlets in Armenia.

Its investigations have led to criminal inquiries, parliamentary scrutiny, and responses from state institutions on issues ranging from corruption and monopolies to environmental violations.

Arevik Sahakyan, founder and executive director of Factor TV, became a journalist in Armenia in the 1990s, a time she describes as unusually open.

From the outset, Arevik defined that newsroom in relatively strict terms. “We consider ourselves watchdogs of democracy,” she says.

Factor TV focuses on investigations, human rights reporting and accountability, rather than prioritising entertainment.

In a media environment where many outlets are openly aligned with political or business interests is a powerful asset FactorTV recognises.

“If you want democracy to survive, you have to support those who are protecting it,” Arevik says. The alternative is not difficult to imagine.

Read more: https://democracyendowment.eu/stories/factor-tv

07/05/2026

In 2015, when the Turkish government abandoned the peace process with the Kurdish movement, the decision dominoed into the shutdown of many Kurdish civil society and arts organisations.

In 2016, the Yılmaz Güney Cinema, in the city of Batman, was shut down, leaving a huge gap in the city’s small but vibrant arts scene. Yakup and his friends felt compelled to build a new cultural centre.

“We wanted to fill this artistic and cultural void and protect our language and create a space that could contribute to the democratisation of society,” he says.

They believe that Turkey’s Kurdish and Turkish communities must reconcile for democracy to thrive, and that art can play a fundamental role as a bridge between cultures.

Despite the many challenges they faced along the way, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2023 earthquake, and an uphill battle against censorship, they persisted.

“We survived the pandemic, we survived the earthquake, and we didn't close down,” Yakup says. “We plan to keep going as long as our energy and strength hold out.”

Read more: https://democracyendowment.eu/stories/yeni-sahne

06/05/2026

We are happy to support Okhtyrka Street Cultures Development Center and all the cool work they do in their community.

05/05/2026

Олена Щепак та двоє її колишніх колег заснували незалежне медіа під назвою «18000» у 2019 році в Черкасах. Вони хотіли створити видання, яке було б невеликим, незалежним і підзвітним лише своїй редакційній команді.

Вони назвали його «18000» за поштовим індексом Черкас. Це був їхній спосіб сказати: це наше і воно належить саме цьому місцю.

Сьогодні команда налічує 14 людей, а сайт щомісяця відвідує близько 300 000 користувачів — приблизно стільки ж, скільки становить населення самого міста.

«Наша робота має реальний вплив», — каже Олена.

Громада вірить у роботу «18000». У певний момент читачі вийшли на вулиці з плакатами, на яких були надруковані заголовки їхніх розслідувань. Згодом з’явилися петиції. Місцева влада була змушена реагувати.

Потім почалася повномасштабна війна. Попри обстріли та години без електрики, команда «18000» продовжувала працювати.

«Ми почали інакше дивитися на те, що можемо зробити для нашого майбутнього», — каже Олена.

Команда розширила свою комерційну діяльність, експериментуючи з новими форматами реклами, водночас дотримуючись суворих етичних меж. Кампанії зі збору коштів стали частішими, почали організовуватися заходи, з’явився брендований мерч. Почала формуватися спільнота членів — нині це вже понад 200 людей.

«18000» також отримують більш інституційну підтримку від Cherkasy IT Cluster — об’єднання місцевих технологічних компаній.

Цю ініціативу було підтримано завдяки внеску Європейського Союзу до EED.

Дізнатися більше: https://democracyendowment.eu/stories/18000-ua

04/05/2026

This Sunday marked World Press Freedom Day 2026 – an important moment to reaffirm a core principle: trusted, independent media are a cornerstone of democratic infrastructure.

The role of independent journalism has never been more vital. Yet the pressures facing the sector are equally unprecedented. Journalists and media organisations face attacks, harassment, restrictive laws, media capture, and growing self-censorship—while also grappling with distorted markets, shrinking revenues, and new challenges from emerging technologies such as AI.

Despite these mounting obstacles, independent media across the EU neighbourhood and beyond continue to demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and resolve.

Supporting them today is an investment in democratic strength and societal resilience.

Below, we highlight just a few of our inspiring media partners. Their creativity, agility, and integrity under immense pressure serve as a powerful reminder that words do more than inform - they have the power to drive change.

04/05/2026

From 17 to the 19th of April, nearly 40 media professionals and activists from different regions of Ukraine took part in the School of Democracy Leaders Development conference. At a time when Ukraine is facing immense challenges, strengthening civil society is a key building block in the foundation for the future.

Besides practical skill-building, the participants also discussed leadership and women activists’ challenges and ambitions for their communities and Ukraine’s future, in a dialogue with EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová, representative of the Embassy of Canada Maria Habanikova, and civic activist and Member of the Ukrainian Parliament of the 6th and 7th convocations Lesia Orobets.

A heartfelt thank you to Internews Ukraine, European Union in Ukraine, and Canada’s Foreign Policy—Global Affairs Canada for supporting this initiative.

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З 17 по 19 квітня 40 медійників та активістів із різних регіонів України взяли участь у конференції Школи розвитку лідерів демократії. У час, коли Україна стикається з величезними викликами, зміцнення громадянського суспільства є ключовим елементом у побудові фундаменту майбутнього.

Окрім розвитку практичних навичок, учасники також обговорили лідерство, виклики та амбіції жінок-активісток у своїх громадах і в контексті майбутнього України під час діалогу з Послом ЄС в Україні Katarína Mathernová, представницею Посольства Канади Марією Габаніковою та громадською активісткою і народною депутаткою України VI та VII скликань Лесею Оробець.

Щира подяка Internews Ukraine, Делегації ЄС в Україні та уряду Канади за підтримку цієї ініціативи.

Adres

Rue De La Loi 34
Brussels
1000

Openingstijden

Maandag	09:30 - 18:00
Dinsdag	09:30 - 18:00
Woensdag	09:30 - 18:00
Donderdag	09:30 - 18:00
Vrijdag	09:30 - 18:00

Website

https://www.democracyendowment.eu/

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