Georgia, Moldova, Romania on Our Mind

The recent decision of the Georgian government (of 28 November) to suspend the EU accession process has provoked citizens to organise nationwide protests. The authorities have used force and detention against pro-European protestors. Earlier this year, the Georgian Parliament passed an anti-LGBTQ+ law as well as a ‘foreign agents’ law, as a harmful turn against fundamental freedoms and a step towards an authoritarian regime. However, they did not crack-down the sincere spirit of the Georgian civil society and cultural sector. ECF stands firmly with the people in Georgia and their legitimate choice to live in a united and free Europe. As a member of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, we fully support the Forum’s statement on the situation in Georgia. We call on the EU and its Member States to intensify their political and financial support for Georgian civil society, rights defenders, cultural activists and media workers, as well as to take actions against the undermining hybrid attacks and disinformation.

Democracy and human rights are not guaranteed equally across the EU, as they should. Foreign interference in political processes is becoming increasingly blatant. Our eyes are also on the turmoil around the presidential elections in Romania since late November. We hope that new developments over the past days make way for an ever-stronger European sentiment across the country in response to the dramatic rise of anti-European movements and nationalism. And only one European border further East, a majority of the citizens of Moldova recently passed a historic referendum for EU accession.

The European Cultural Foundation has supported civil society and cultural actors in Georgia, Romania, and Moldova for more than twenty years. We will continue to support independent voices and actions on democracy, freedom of expression, and the art of civil action.

Here are some recent examples:

• Culture of Solidarity Fund – Democracy and Resilience 
• Display Europe – the European independent journalism platform
• The Europe Challenge

Join us in supporting a Culture of Solidarity across Europe and donate to the Culture of Solidarity Fund!

Photo by Jaanus Jagomägi on Unsplash