Leadership and Democracy Initiative for Eastern Europe (GMF)

active

Selected Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries are to be supported in their convergence with the values and standards of the European Union. The module objective of the project (direct impact) is to enable key figures from civil society, the media, business and local governments from the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries to promote transparent, innovative, inclusive and participatory governance in their countries. In order to strengthen political participation nationwide and not just in the capitals, decentralized or local/regional actors and structures in particular are to be addressed. This is intended to strengthen democracy and the rule of law as well as resilience to autocratic tendencies in the EaP countries (indirect impact at program level). This project complements the current development cooperation commitment and supports numerous FC projects at local and regional level in the EaP countries. This programme proposal includes measures in the form of cross-border scholarships, study trips, seminars, information and network programmes as well as support for projects and institutions to promote independent media, good governance, democratisation and the fight against corruption. The target group of the planned measures are representatives from business, administration, media and civil society from Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Armenia, primarily from local and regional structures and institutions.