Democracy is under threat, both globally and at the European level. A clear trend of democratic backsliding in some EU Member States and neighbouring countries can be observed – shrinking democratic space, fewer fundamental freedoms, and the demolishing of the rule of law and systems of checks and balances. To counteract this global spread of illiberalism and authoritarianism, which could also affect the EU, an increased effort in democracy support and democratisation is needed to protect and make democracy resilient.

That’s why we, as part of the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), have come together with International IDEA, and the European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP) to release a joint statement on the European Commission’s proposal for the Multi-Annual Financial Framework 2021-2027.

The joint statement is as follows:

We welcome the European Commission’s resolve to develop a new Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) that will contribute to a safe and secure, prosperous, competitive, sustainable and socially responsible European Union (EU), and provide the capacity for the EU to play a leading role in global affairs. 

We support an MFF that brings more simplicity, flexibility and agility, as well as greater efficiency, to the EU’s external action instruments. However, we are also concerned the European Commission’s proposal of a single External Instrument in the next MFF could lead to a less strategic approach to democracy support, reduced financial resources, less predictability and funding specificities, and reduced accountability, transparency and oversight, amongst others.

As actors in democracy support and partners of the EU, we would like to make the following recommendations in relation to democratization and external democracy support in the next MFF 2021-2027:

1. Increase the funding for the external action component compared to the current EU budget to reflect the importance of external relations on the long-term interests of the Union and its citizens.
2. Guarantee that all current operating modalities for external democracy support under the EIDHR are maintained and further improved.
3. Expand funding and ensure long-term financial commitment to external democracy support in line with the scope of current and emerging challenges.
4. Simplify and streamline the rules and procedures of external action instruments.
5. Ensure wide consultation, coordination and policy coherence among EU Institutions, EU Member States, and with democracy support actors.

Read the full statement here.