As NATO member states prepare to announce a surge in defence spending at the NATO summit tomorrow, leading democracy organisations, the European Endowment for Democracy, International IDEA and Kofi Annan Foundation, urge member states to make an equal commitment to defending democracy. They call on member states to:
They also call on the European Union to:
On 20 June, the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and the Kofi Annan Foundation (KAF) convened key stakeholders, including diplomats, NATO officials, NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegates, and civil society representatives, in Brussels to explore the place democracy should occupy in the new security agenda based on a policy paper commissioned by the KAF.
“Democracy support serves the interests of those who provide it. By helping others, we help ourselves. Democracy support programmes promote democratic values, respect for human rights and the rule of law – it serves our strategic interests by creating deep understanding and trust with like-minded individuals and societies. This forms the foundation of any strong security architecture. Europe cannot defend its values and way of life simply by building military capacity, neglecting winning minds and hearts of neighbours,” says Jerzy Pomianowski, Executive Director, European Endowment for Democracy.
The defence of democracy is at the heart of both NATO and EU treaties. Yet as democracy is backsliding and facing increasing pressure in Europe and around the world from authoritarian regimes, budgets for democracy defence and promotion are being slashed by NATO and European member states.
“At a time when NATO’s and the EU’s adversaries are pouring resources into undermining democracies around the world, their member states ought to redouble their efforts, not curtail them,” says Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General, International IDEA.” Democracy is not a competing priority to security, but one of its core components.
The organisations remind NATO and EU allies that investing in democratic resilience strengthens alliances, prevents conflict, reduces long-term defence costs, and limits the space for authoritarian actors to exploit instability. Treating it as a core function of collective defence will make transatlantic responses more effective, sustainable, and coherent.
“Kofi Annan always stressed that democracy is a universal aspiration,” recalled Corinne-Momal Vanian, Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation, “but as a negative narrative takes hold that democracy is a ‘Western project’, support from traditional backers is waning. As a value-based project, the EU must step up its support. Among competing priorities, investment in democracy brings the best returns.”
