Some European governments have curtailed core democratic freedoms, at times going beyond necessary pandemic precautions. But civil society is holding these restrictions in check.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict interrupted Armenia’s reform movement and restricted civil liberties. To prevent the fragile transition from unraveling further, the EU should step up its engagement and democracy support along three priorities.
In spite of its authoritarian practices, Ethiopia has attracted billions in international aid. The November 2020 conflict in the northern Tigray region should prompt a recalibration of the development model, which promotes economic gains without political inclusion.
The EU’s new human rights sanctions regime is a major step forward. Yet the union needs to better establish how the regime connects to the rest of the its foreign policy.
European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová and Richard Youngs unpack the European Democracy Action Plan and explore how it will improve the future of Europe.
Climate assemblies can help unlock more effective action against climate change, but improvements are needed in how they are run.