Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

24/08/2026

On Ukraine's Independence Day, we celebrate the courage, resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people in defending their sovereignty, democracy and European future.

On 24 August 1991, Ukraine regained its independence, embarking on a path toward freedom, democracy and the right to shape its own future.

Thirty-five years on, that path has been tested like never before. Amid Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, the people of Ukraine continue to defend their sovereignty, territorial integrity and democratic choice at extraordinary human cost.

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum stands in solidarity with Ukraine and with Ukrainian civil society, whose courage, resilience and strong commitment to democratic values remain central to Ukraine’s defence, recovery and ongoing path toward EU membership.

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum pays tribute to all those defending Ukraine—on the front lines and in communities across the country—and renews its call for sustained and unwavering support for Ukraine’s resistance and victory, for a just and lasting peace, and for the continued advancement of its EU accession process.

On this Independence Day, we reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Ukraine and our commitment to a free, democratic, sovereign and European Ukraine.

17/08/2026

🇺🇦 The bandura is considered by many as Ukraine’s national instrument whose history can be traced back to the 6th century. Its popularity in the courts of Eastern Europe rose in the Middle Ages and it was often accompanied by dance and song.

The instrument is closely tied to Ukrainian resistance as in the 20th century; artists who played the bandura fell victim to the Soviet government who sought to suppress the instrument as a means of destroying Ukrainian cultural identity.

The bandura incorporates the acoustic principles of the both the lute (an ancient plucked-string instrument related to the modern guitar) and harp, resembling somewhat of a harpsichord. Its sound is both sharp and percussive yet gentle and resonant.

🔗 Discover the sound of the bandura via our EaP Summer Sounds playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwgvelZPb10&list=PLMbzViQyOOIo

Follow our page to check out our EaP Summer Sounds series for more fascinating traditional instruments from the Eastern Partnership countries.

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Sources: Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America; Center for World Music; UkraineWorld.

Disclaimer: These images are not owned by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. They are sourced from Wikimedia Commons and are utilised here for educational and cultural purposes under their Creative Commons licenses. Pattern design by Magnific.

13/08/2026

📢 The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum is seeking a consultant to develop a policy paper on the Eastern Partnership's (EaP) achievements, lessons learned and the future of EU support beyond 2027.

The paper should demonstrate the concrete impact of the EaP, highlight the role of civil society as a key partner in advancing democratic reforms, assess the complementary role of the EaP in relation to the EU enlargement process or bilateral cooperation and provide practical recommendations to EU institutions and Member States on future support for the EaP under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

📄 Deliverables: 20–25 page policy paper
🗓 Deadline to apply: 11 September 2026
📩 Apply here:

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

12/08/2026

This International Youth Day, we celebrate young people across the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region and beyond who are standing up for democracy, civic engagement, and their communities.

This year’s International Youth Day theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” highlights that, despite diverse local realities, young people around the world share common hopes and goals. This resonates strongly in the EaP region, where many youth continue to defend democratic values amidst shrinking civic spaces.

Swipe to discover what participants from this year’s EaP Youth Conference, organised in May, have taken away from the experience and how it continues to inspire their work.

🔗 Read our post-event report which presents the key discussions, reflections and recommendations emerging from the conference: https://eap-csf.eu/articles/eastern-partnership-youth-conference-2026-report/

10/08/2026

🇲🇩 The nai, a woodwind instrument, is rooted in Moldovan folklore. This pan flute, made of wood or bamboo and featuring 20 to 22 hollow pipes, is one of the oldest musical instruments in the world, with archaeologist having found remnants of the pipes throughout the world.

Though its origins have yet to be established, the nai is strongly associated with Moldovan folklore music; a monument dedicated to the instrument can even be found in Chișinău, the capital.

The nai produces a soft, airy sound used in folk melodies and pastoral music.

🔗 Discover the sound of the nai via our EaP Summer Sounds playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwgvelZPb10&list=PLMbzViQyOOIo

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Sources: Grokipedia; Visit Chișinău – Monumentul Naiului.

Disclaimer: These images are not owned by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. They are sourced from Wikimedia Commons and are utilised here for educational and cultural purposes under their Creative Commons licenses. Pattern design by Magnific.

07/08/2026

📢 Call for Expressions of Interest for Development of a Policy Paper

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) is seeking an experienced consultant to develop a policy paper on the Eastern Partnership's (EaP) achievements, lessons learned and the future of EU support beyond 2027.

The paper should:
🔸 Demonstrate the concrete impact of the EaP through examples drawn from all six EaP countries, ensuring that each country is represented while identifying lessons for the future design of EU support beyond 2027
🔸 Highlight the role of civil society as a key partner in advancing democratic reforms
🔸 Assess the complementary role of the EaP in relation to the EU enlargement process or bilateral cooperation
🔸 Provide practical recommendations to EU institutions and Member States on future support for the EaP under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

📄 Deliverables: 20–25 page policy paper
🗓 Deadline to apply: 11 September 2026
📩 Discover how to apply:

Since its launch in 2009, the Eastern Partnership (EaP) has served as the European Union’s main framework for engagement with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Over the past 15 years, the EaP has supported democratic governance, institutional reform, econo...

05/08/2026

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum welcomes the newly elected Working Group Coordinators.

Over the coming two years, they will help guide the work of the Working Groups, foster collaboration among members, and contribute to advancing the Forum's mission across the Eastern Partnership region.

Swipe right to meet them and learn more about the expertise, experience, and priorities they bring to their roles.

05/08/2026

🇬🇪 The changi is a traditional Georgian instrument. Resembling a harp, and usually featuring 6 to 11 strings, the changi has been played in the country since around the 4th century.

Considered the Caucasus region’s oldest stringed instrument, nowadays the changi is only preserved in the north-western part of the country, in the mountainous region of Svaneti.

Considered an instrument of sorrow, the changi is said to have been played to comfort those in grief. Often played by women, the plucked strings produce a delicate, reflective and intimate sound.

🔗 Discover the sound of the changi via our EaP Summer Sounds playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwgvelZPb10&list=PLMbzViQyOOIo

More traditional instruments from the Eastern Partnership countries are coming soon in our Summer Sounds series—stay tuned!

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Sources: Hangebi.ge; Wikipedia

Disclaimer: These images are not owned by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. They are sourced from Wikimedia Commons and are utilised here for educational and cultural purposes under their Creative Commons licenses. Pattern design by Magnific.

29/07/2026

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum welcomes the newly elected National Platform Facilitators who will coordinate the work of their country's National Platform for the coming two years.

Each one of them will act as the main link between national civil society organisations, the EaP CSF Secretariat, and EU and national decision-makers.

Discover more about them below.

28/07/2026

The cymbaly (also sometimes written as tsymbaly) has become a symbol of Belarusian culture.

The cymbaly spread across Eastern Europe for centuries and is a traditional hammered dulcimer—an ancient percussion instrument consisting of a trapezoidal wooden body, played by striking the strings with small mallets to produce a sharp, crystal, harp-like sound.

The cymbaly is said to have appeared in Belarusian literary texts between the 14th-16th century and the instrument is now featured in folk orchestras and cultural festivals throughout the country.

🔗 Discover the sound of the cymbaly via our EaP Summer Sounds playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwgvelZPb10&list=PLMbzViQyOOIo

Join us throughout our Summer Sounds series as we showcase traditional instruments from the Eastern Partnership countries.
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Sources: Belarusian Institute of Arts and Sciences (Canada); Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies (University of Kansas); Belarus Guide.

Disclaimer: These images are not owned by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. They are sourced from Wikimedia Commons as well as the Belarusian Institute of Arts and Sciences and are utilised here for educational and cultural purposes under their Creative Commons licenses. Pattern and flower design by Magnific.