The European Endowment for Democracy (EED) is an independent, grant-making organisation established in 2013 by the European Union (EU) and EU Member States as an autonomous International Trust Fund to foster democracy in the European Neighbourhood and beyond.
Learn moreThe 2013 launch of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) came at a time of anxious debate about the state of democracy worldwide.
Applications received per region
in 2023 — 1,326
Eastern Partnership (EaP)*
Eurasia
Middle East & North Africa
Western Balkans & Turkey
Rest of the World
* For the purposes of this report, Belarus continues to be included within the EaP.
Applications approved by region in 2023
Eastern Partnership (EaP)*
Eurasia
Middle East & North Africa
Western Balkans & Turkey
* The Executive Committee (ExCom)
Grants awarded by thematic area in 2023
Independent and social media platforms
Civic activism and participation
Human rights activism and monitoring
Women's civic and political participation
Inclusive society, sexual orientation and gender identity
Arts and culture
Youth
Anti-corruption and public accountability
Language of application in 2023
English
Ukrainian
Russian
Arabic
Turkish
BHS*
French
Albanian
*BHS: Languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia.
EED’s added value in 2023
Core funding
Start-up funding (new actor)
Rapid response
Under-supported activity
Political risk
Bridge funding
Start-up funding (new activity)
EED events bring together activists and independent journalists from the regions and countries where EED works with policy makers from European institutions, Member States and the global democracy community.
In 2023, EED’s 10th anniversary year, EED organised, co-organised and participated in 32 events, including events held on EED’s premises, events held together with partner organisations, and as part of international conferences, and events organised as part of the anniversary celebrations.
Learn moreUkrainian women take the lead in civil society and independent media amid Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, millions of women have self-mobilised across the country, providing help to those forced to flee their homes due to hostilities, availing of their vast networks to lead humanitarian relief work, taking up cameras to document the brutalities of war, joining Ukrainian defence forces and providing vital non- combat logistics and support to the army.
Learn more
In emergency situations, civil society is often the best placed to quickly adapt to emerging needs. It has the skills and networks in place to quickly organise and to mobilise resources, to work closely with local communities and when appropriate, with local authorities.
Learn more
In this special anniversary annual report, we have included the profiles of ten of EED’s partners, who are the faces of this 10th anniversary and who together represent the breadth and depth of EED’s grant-making across the countries and regions where it works.
Visit the EED at 10 site
