Democracy: EU adopts conclusions
The Council today adopted conclusions on democracy.
The conclusions underline that in today’s world, democracy is being challenged and called into question. While democracy remains strong in many countries, in others there is a growing trend towards authoritarianism. The Council notes that the challenges to democracy are multi-fold and need to be countered urgently and comprehensively.
Ten years after the last Council conclusions on democracy support in the EU’s External Relations, the EU renews its commitment to democracy in a significantly changed global context.
One of the aims of the EU’s external action is to advance democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as set out in the Article 21 of the Treaty. As underpinned by the EU Global Strategy, strengthening democracy externally is also in the Union’s strategic interest, contributing to core aspects of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (multilateralism, development, peace and security, migration).
The Council agreed to further develop a common and practical EU response to promote positive trends and to address new and shared challenges to democracy.
