Discussion Paper: First Approach to Identifying the Common Challenges to Democracy in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership Countries

A Discussion Paper has been published as the first result of the international project “Addressing the Common Challenges to Democracy in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership”, in which Political Capital is participating along with its partners (Asociația pentru Politica Externă (APE) – Moldova, Civic IDEA – Georgia, Forum2000 – Czechia, Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR) – Ukraine, Memo98 – Slovakia, Res Publica Foundation – Poland, SBUNKER – Kosovo, WestBalkanNet – Montenegro).

This document represents the first phase of the project and provides an analysis of the key challenges faced by democracies in the countries of the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership.

Key findings of the document:

• Weaknesses of Civil Society – Civil society organizations in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries face underfunding, limited institutional support, and public mistrust, undermining their ability to advocate for democratic reforms and build trust in political institutions.
• Rise of Nationalism and Populism – Growing populist and nationalist tendencies are deepening social divisions, undermining tolerance, and weakening democratic governance, posing a serious risk to democratic consolidation and regional stability.
• Geopolitical Pressures – The influence of Russia and China, as well as the positioning of the EU and NATO, create an uncertain geopolitical dynamic and a balancing act between opposing interests.
• Socio-economic Inequalities – Poverty, social inequalities, and the emigration of young professionals (brain drain) contribute to social tensions and further destabilize the region.
• Weak Institutions and Oligarchic Influence – Politicized judiciary, corruption, and the dominance of oligarchs create a system of impunity, in which political and business elites exploit state resources without legal consequences.
• Undermining Democratic Processes – Political elites and oligarchs systematically undermine democratic institutions, strengthening authoritarian tendencies and weakening democratic control mechanisms.
• Erosion of Media Freedoms – Threats to media freedom pose a serious challenge to democratic governance and public trust, with independent journalists and media outlets often being targets of political and economic pressures.

The entire Discussion Paper is available here.

About the project

Political Capital has become part of the prestigious international project “Addressing the Common Challenges to Democracy in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership,” implemented by Forum 2000 with financial support from the Visegrad Fund. The project brings together nine organizations from the Visegrad Group (V4) and the Eastern Partnership countries, aiming to strengthen the role of civil society organizations as key actors in democratic resilience and change in their regions.

This project, through collaboration with civil society organizations from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership, with the support of V4 countries, will identify the key challenges these organizations face in the democratization process. Additionally, through the analysis of strategies, communication messages, and networking with local and international actors, the project will provide recommendations to European Union institutions, international organizations, and donors on ways to support democratic transformations in these regions.

Political Capital’s participation in this project confirms its commitment to strengthening democratic capacities and regional cooperation in addressing the challenges of democratization.

Consortium member organisations:

• Asociația pentru Politica Externă (APE) – Moldova
• Civic IDEA – Georgia
• Forum2000 – Czechia
• Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR) – Ukraine
• Memo98 – Slovakia
• Political Capital – Hungary
• Res Publica Foundation – Poland
• SBUNKER – Kosovo
• WestBalkanNet – Montenegro

More information about the project is available here.