About Democracy27
Who we are
Democracy27 is a politically neutral, civil society initiative built to shine a light on the challenges facing democracy across Europe, and to advocate for bold, adaptive reform. We have brought together champions from politics, business, defence, academia and civil society, because a challenge this broad demands an all-of-society response.
Europeans value democracy, but they are losing trust in how it works in practice.
Democracy27 seeks to understand this disconnect and to identify practical, actionable recommendations for decision-makers by listening to a broad range of citizens and societal actors across Europe.
Strong support
%
of EU citizens say it is important for them that all EU Member States respect the core values of the EU, including fundamental rights, the rule of law, and democracy
Source: Eurobarometer 2024
Deep dissatisfaction
%
of EU citizens are unsatisfied with the way democracy works in their country
Source: Eurobarometer 2026
Our mission
Most Europeans strongly support democracy. Yet a growing majority are dissatisfied with how it works in practice.
However, democracy is not a status quo. It is an ever-evolving system that requires work, care and adaptation to be fit for the challenges we face today and for the next generations.
Democracy27 exists to understand where the confidence is eroding and come up with bold recommendations that can be implemented at the European, national and sub-national level in all European countries.
Our vision
We envision a Europe in which democratic renewal becomes a permanent feature of policymaking.
Institutional Innovation
Representative democracy should not only be defended against external threats, but continuously improved through institutional innovation, meaningful citizen participation, and reforms that strengthen legitimacy, accountability, and public trust.
Lasting Impact
Achieving this requires more than new ideas. It requires political leadership, broad societal coalitions, and sustained investment capable of translating democratic innovation into lasting institutional reform.
How we work
We combine expert input and analysis with country visits and citizen consultations across Europe, listening directly to the people democracy is meant to serve, not just to those who study it or govern.
FAQs
How are you funded?
Democracy27 is supported by individual and institutional donations. All contributions are accepted on an equal footing and carry no conditions, obligations or influence over our purpose, governance, analysis, recommendations or advocacy.
Is Democracy27 connected to the European Commission or to the Democracy Shield?
No. Democracy27 is an independent civil society initiative and it does not have a mandate from the European institutions.
It is not a substitute for the European Commission’s Democracy Shield. Our focus is different: while the Democracy Shield protects European elections and information ecosystems from outside interference, Democracy27 looks inward, at the domestic factors driving democratic erosion across the continent.
What are the country visits?
From the end of August through December 2026, Democracy27 will carry out in-depth visits to six countries selected for their political relevance and diversity across Europe: Poland, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Spain and France. In each country, a small Task Force delegation meets with political and institutional actors, civil society and democracy practitioners, media and communication actors, and citizens themselves. The programme includes a dedicated youth roundtable and a citizens’ dialogue to understand what that country reveals about the state and future of democracy in Europe.
You say you cover all of Europe, yet only a handful of countries will be visited. What does that mean in practice?
Our research, data collection and citizen participation work span all 27 EU countries, drawing on a broad network of civil society organisations that have collectively engaged more than five million people across the continent. Alongside this Europe-wide picture, we carry out in-depth visits to a smaller number of countries, chosen for their political and geographic diversity. These visits let us go further: meeting political and institutional actors, civil society, media and citizens on the ground, so our final report and recommendations are grounded in real national experiences, not just Europe-wide data or analysis from Brussels.
Why is it called Democracy27?
The “27” points to the 27 EU member states, whose democracies are all part of our picture. “2027” points to a pivotal year for European democracy, with major national elections across the continent and a European Commission mid-term review on the horizon: a real window of opportunity to put democratic renewal on the agenda.
Our tagline, Time to listen, Time to act, underlines the civil-society roots of this initiative. Democracy27 is connected to citizens on the ground, first understanding their needs in day-to-day life, then turning that understanding into practical change.