Walking the tightrope of democracy aid – A long and winding road towards ‘flexible’, well-targeted EU funding for democracy and human rights
Author: Věra Řiháčková, Senior Research Fellow, EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, Czech Republic
Publisher: PASOS Secretariat, Prague, Czech Republic Tesnov 3
110 00 Prague
Czech Republic
Tel: +420 2223 13644
Fax: +420 2223 13644
http://www.pasos.org
An analysis of the implementation of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (Country-Based Support Schemes) in Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine
Since its introduction in January 2007, and de facto implementation from the second half of 2008, the reformed European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) has opened up the possibility of more flexible funding reaching civil society organisations and individuals.
Greater attention is now devoted to the need for confidentiality concerning activities undertaken under authoritarian rule, and the option of re-granting to local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has begun to be taken up in response to calls for proposals in 2009-2010. As this study (an updated version of PASOS Policy Brief No. 2, 2010, A long and winding road? The quest for ‘flexible’ EU democracy funding) sets out, more consultation with other donors, and with EU (European Union) and third-country NGOs, could close the remaining gaps between the promise and reality of the new financial arrangements.
However, the EIDHR remains a standard instrument implemented via a technical approach rather than a political tool with the potential to support or promote democracy in countries ripe for change. Democracy support remains overshadowed by human and social rights issues within EIDHR programming and implementation. Moreover, the new EIDHR Strategy Paper 2011-2013 offers little prospect of significant changes that would raise the priority of democracy support closer to the level of priority given to human rights support.
This policy brief was written as part of the project, Return to Europe – Reflections After 20 Years of Democratic Renewal. The research was undertaken by the following project partners, all of which are PASOS members: the Center for Policy Studies at the Central European University, Hungary, the Institute of Public Affairs (ISP), Poland, and the Institute for Public Affairs (IVO), Slovak Republic. The project is being carried out with the support of the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union, and of the International Visegrad Fund.
PASOS_EIDHR_policybrief1June2010.pdf (438.02 kB)
