Shared Challenges to Democracy in the Eastern Partnership and Western Balkans

March 18, 2025

The Eastern Partnership and Western Balkans regions are at an uncomfortable crossroads between democracy and autocracy. They share enduring structural challenges, such as rule of law, economic regression, and ethnic tensions. This discussion paper aims to highlight some of the common challenges faced by the regions, providing a foundation for understanding how local and international democratic civil society can play a role in addressing these issues.