Our Democracy Report will launch on 8 Sept!
See our press conference to learn more!
A youth-led assessment of democracy across Europe
The Our Democracy Report brings together over 60 young Democracy Rapporteurs from EU member states and accession countries to investigate and analyse the state of democracy in their own national contexts. Led by the Our Rule of Law Foundation, the project combines research, training, and mentorship to produce a unique youth perspective on Europe’s democratic landscape.
At the heart of the report are six focus areas that directly shape the lives and opportunities of young Europeans:
Participation in Governance
Justice Systems
Digital Literacy
Equality & Non-Discrimination
Climate Transition
Education & Economic Empowerment
These themes cover everything from the ability to vote and participate in decision-making, to fair access to justice, to skills for navigating the digital world, to the protection of rights, to shaping climate policy, and to opportunities in education and the job market.
Importantly, the report does not only spotlight weaknesses. It also identifies strengths and promising practices, offering concrete examples of how democracy can be defended and renewed. This dual perspective — diagnosing risks while amplifying positive lessons — is central to our approach and represents a major innovation.
Methodology
The Democracy Rapporteurs combined quantitative indicators (including V-Dem data and other trusted sources) with qualitative analysis to capture both trends and lived realities. National teams tailored their focus to the most pressing issues in their own countries, while also enabling meaningful cross-European comparisons.
The project covers 17 countries: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, plus a dedicated chapter on the European Union institutions.
How We Work
The project unfolded in three main stages, each building on the other to combine rigorous research with lived experience.
Participants began with an intensive series of expert lectures delivered by leading voices in democracy and the rule of law. Sophie Pornschlegel from the European Policy Centre explored democratic resilience and long-term security. Judge Síofra O’Leary and Professor Kim Lane Scheppele of Princeton University spoke about defending democratic values. A panel with Jakub Jaraczewski, York Albrecht, Barbara Grabowska-Moroz, and Ana María Montoya shared insights on democracy monitoring across Europe. MEPs Michał Wawrykiewicz and Tineke Strik discussed the political impact of the European Commission’s Rule of Law Report, while Joelle Grogan offered strategies for communicating research effectively.
Building on this foundation, all participants then gathered at Humboldt University Berlin for a dynamic bootcamp. The programme combined comparative discussions with thematic working groups. Keynote addresses were given by Professor John Morijn of the University of Groningen, Prof. Dr. Silvia von Steinsdorff of Humboldt University, Daniel Hegedus of the German Marshall Fund, and Viktoriia Lapa of Bocconi University. Presentations and feedback sessions were led by André Wilkens of the European Cultural Foundation, together with Sarah Karacs, Ida Reihani, Ana Bobic, and Lea Schubert from the Hertie School. Working groups were facilitated by York Albrecht, Dániel Szabó, Cian Kinsella, Steffi Vella Laurenti, Yustyna Samahalska, and Eva Martin.
Finally, national teams returned to their own contexts to prepare national chapters under the close guidance of mentors. Each team benefited from dedicated support to ensure their analysis was both rigorous and accessible. We gratefully acknowledge the mentorship of Katharina Pabel, Wouter Wolfs, Ladislav Vyhnánek, Sebastien Platon, Eva Martin, Nóra Novoszádek, Petra Bard, Tom Hickey, Laurent Pech, Alberto Alemanno, Matteo Bonelli, Emma Portelli Bonnici, Steffi Vella Laurenti, Jasper Krommendijk, Anna Wójcik, Filipe Marques, Raluca Bercea, Laura Ștefan, Simona Demkova, Daniel Sarmiento, Anna Sodersten, Yustyna Samahalska, Viktoriia Lapa, Aleksejs Dimitrovs, and Akudo McGee.
This process ensured that the final report reflects both high research standards and the voices of young Europeans themselves.
Support and Acknowledgements
The project was made possible thanks to the generous support of the European Cultural Foundation, Mercator Stiftung, Humboldt University Law & Society Institute, the Polish Embassy in Berlin, and Jefferson’s Catering.
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