The changes in the political landscape initiated by the breakthrough of 1989 have created a chance to develop and strengthen European democracy; at the same time, they present new challenges to European political elites and societies. In the countries where the process of democratic transformation is still underway, those challenges include creation of democratic institutions and mechanisms of operation of the state under the rule of law, as well as – regardless of the level of democratic development in individual countries – citizen’s participation in key political and social processes in the changing European reality.

Citizens’ activity is a driving force behind the development of democracy in Europe, particularly in the areas of implementing democratic values, such as human rights or gender democracy, and in the area of counteracting negative forces hindering the development of democratic Europe – such as xenophobia, anti-Semitism, or the extreme right.

The development of democracy is the founding principle of the Green policy implemented by the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Central and Eastern Europe.

The spectrum of actions includes engaging citizens of European countries in the debate about current political issues in the European Union (integration vs. expansion) and in Europe (cooperation of European countries in the changed political landscape), as well as about internal political and economic changes and their social effects.

The reference point for the current debates about European democracy is the history of post-war Europe, and particularly the costs and efforts undertaken in the process of eradicating European divisions, seen from the perspective of individual countries and their citizens.