Europe

As a regional programme, the Europe team works with electoral commissions and other democratic oversight bodies in Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans. It sets up regular regional exchanges on cutting edge topics, from cybersecurity in elections to EU-enlargement. In Ukraine, International IDEA has been active since 2017, mostly on the topics of elections, money in politics and ICT & Democracy. 

Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression, it has intensified its engagement in Ukraine, supporting both parliament and the Central Election Commission. In Moldova, Armenia and Georgia, International IDEA implements programmes on similarly innovative topics in partnership with a broad range of democratic oversight agencies. In the Western Balkans, its youngest focus, International IDEA has a presence in Albania that focuses on elections, ICT and transparency of political finance. In addition, the Institute regularly engages civil society across the region in discussions on democracy trends and the EU reform agenda.

International IDEA is a trusted partner of the European Union in support of democracy within the EU and globally. Its EU-funded projects are implemented in all world regions. 

At its liaison office to the European Union in Brussels, International IDEA fosters the partnership with EU institutions through relationship building, advocacy for effective internal and external democracy policies, representation of global and country programmes, and EU resource mobilization. Our key goals are to impact EU decision-making and contribute to sustaining the EU’s global footprint on democracy in collaboration with democracy partners. 

With the support from the EU, International IDEA implements 21 global, regional and in-country programmes. International IDEA is a lead implementer of the EU-funded global programmes Women and Youth in Democratic Engagement (WYDE Women's Leadership and WYDE INTER PARES - Strengthening Parliaments) and Supporting Team Europe Democracy. 

The Europe Programme collaborates closely with rotating Presidencies of the Council of the EU. In 2023 and 2024, its collaboration with Sweden (Swedish Presidency project in support of democracy within the EU’s external policies) and Belgium (Towards and Enlarged Union: Upholding the Rule of Law) supported EU Member States' positioning on democracy at the EU level.

Through relationship building, advocacy for democracy policy and programming, representation of global and country programmes, showcasing knowledge resources and EU resource mobilization.