EMBRACing changE: Overcoming obstacles and advancing democracy in the European Neighbourhood

Project Information

EMBRACE

Grant agreement ID: 101060809

DOI

10.3030/101060809

Project closed

EC signature date 2 June 2022

Start date 1 October 2022

End date 30 September 2025

Funded under

• Culture, creativity and inclusive society

Total cost

€ 2 784 843,75

EU contribution

€ 2 784 843,50

Coordinated by

BERGHOF FOUNDATION OPERATIONS gGMBH
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - EMBRACE (EMBRACing changE: Overcoming obstacles and advancing democracy in the European Neighbourhood)

Reporting period: 2023-10-01 to 2025-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Democratisation processes in the European Neighbourhood have faced renewed authoritarianism, shrinking civic space and heightened geopolitical pressures, challenging the effectiveness of EU democracy promotion (EUDP). EMBRACE addressed these challenges by analysing behavioural, institutional and structural obstacles to democratisation, identifying factors that enable progress, and developing practical tools to strengthen EUDP. The project combined a large-N dataset covering 23 countries over two decades with qualitative research in 12 countries, examining episodes of political deadlock and democratic opening through intra- and cross-regional comparison. A distinctive feature was its participatory approach: seven regional stakeholder committees and one EU-level committee validated research design, reviewed findings and co-developed recommendations. EMBRACE generated new comparative evidence on the drivers of democratisation and the limits of EUDP, and translated these insights into accessible tools, including an interactive mapping tool, a digital platform for activists, a geopolitical toolkit and tailored policy briefs, equipping EU and in-country actors with guidance for more effective and context-sensitive democracy support.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Over the full implementation period, EMBRACE successfully achieved the expected outcomes set out in the Grant Agreement.

WP1 implemented the full participatory stakeholder strategy. Six stakeholder committees met twice, enabling dialogue between EU representatives, public officials and civil society actors and helping build a transregional community of practice. Engagement with CSOs, journalists and activists strengthened public advocacy and fostered critical awareness of EUDP’s ambitions and constraints. Dissemination through panels, publications and the EMBRACE podcast contributed to broader scientific and educational uptake.

WP2 delivered the project’s conceptual and methodological foundations. The Theory Framework Paper, Data Management Plan and Combined Methodology and Fieldwork Plan established the basis for EMBRACE’s theoretical and empirical contribution. The Comparative Synthesis Paper consolidated findings across work packages and supported cross-regional mutual learning.

WP3 produced a novel and openly available dataset on EUDP instruments, democratic trajectories and contextual blockages across 23 countries. Statistical analyses advanced understanding of when and how democratic openings occur and provided key building blocks for the project’s policy tools.

WPs4–7 conducted extensive fieldwork in 12 countries and produced comparative analyses of behavioural, institutional and structural obstacles to democratisation. These findings enhanced understanding of how blockages emerge and under which conditions they can be overcome, while supporting mutual learning among state and political actors across the five regions.

WP8 translated the research into innovative tools: the Digital Platform strengthened activists’ understanding of EUDP and their advocacy capacities; the Interactive Mapping Tool and Geopolitical Toolkit provided policymakers with practical, evidence-based guidance. These tools support a longer-term knowledge-exchange network across the region.

WP9 ensured effective governance, coordination and risk management throughout the project, enabling delivery despite major geopolitical disruptions. WP10 ensured full ethics compliance and safe fieldwork adaptation.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

EMBRACE delivered major advances beyond the state of the art in democratisation research and EU democracy promotion, aligned with the project’s three core expected results.
Scientific results: EMBRACE produced the first longitudinal, open dataset linking EUDP instruments, democratic trajectories and contextual blockages across all 23 Neighbourhood countries. Integrated with qualitative evidence from 12 cases, it enabled unprecedented cross-regional comparative analysis. The project also developed a comprehensive theoretical framework conceptualising behavioural, institutional, structural and geopolitical obstacles to democratisation and conditions for democratic opening.
Policy results: EMBRACE produced three innovative, user-tested tools—a Digital Platform for Activists, an Interactive Mapping Tool and a Geopolitical Toolkit. Co-designed with regional and EU stakeholders, these tools introduce a participatory, evidence-based approach to designing democracy support instruments, making them more context-sensitive and impactful.
Social results: Through open datasets, policy briefs, podcasts and the Activist Space, EMBRACE created an accessible knowledge base supporting civil society advocacy and strengthening a transregional community of practice across Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, the Western Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa.

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