SHAPEDEM-EU held its final conference in Brussels
On 24 September 2025, SHAPEDEM-EU, in cooperation with its sister project EMBRACE, hosted a high-level policy Brussels under the title “Embracing a New Shape: Revisiting EU Democracy Support Policy in the European Neighbourhood.” The event brought together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to wrap up the three-year project and reflect on the evolving role of the European Union (EU) in promoting democracy in its neighbouring regions amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
The event began with a joint introductory session presenting key findings from both projects, setting the stage for an open discussion on how recent geopolitical developments have reshaped the EU’s approach to democracy support. This introductory segment outlined significant research outputs generated by both projects during their three year duration.
The first thematic session explored how democracy support is evolving in the European neighbourhood within the context of heightened geopolitical tensions. Participants examined the EU’s engagement strategies with partner governments, regional actors, and civil society, with a focus on balancing normative commitments with strategic interests. The discussion underscored the challenges of sustaining democratic governance amid conflict, authoritarian resurgence, and external influence.
A parallel session delved into the EU’s engagement with civil society, social movements, and popular uprisings. Speakers reflected on lessons learned from past initiatives and proposed ways to strengthen partnerships with local actors as central agents of democratic resilience.
After a networking coffee break and project results showcase, two regional sessions ran in parallel. One focused on the Middle East and North Africa, presenting policy recommendations for recalibrating EU democracy support tools in the region to address complex governance and security challenges. The other centred on Eastern Europe, the Southern Caucasus, and the Western Balkans, highlighting context-sensitive approaches to reinforce democratic transitions, addressing hybrid regimes, and supporting EU accession-related reforms.
The event concluded with an informal networking reception, providing space for participants to exchange ideas and explore synergies between research and policy practice. Overall, the discussions reaffirmed the need for a flexible, inclusive, and locally grounded EU democracy support strategy capable of responding to the rapidly changing political landscape across the European neighbourhood.
