Duration of the Project

October 2022 – October 2024

Partners

DOTS Foundation for an Open Society (Latvia)
Open Estonia Foundation (Estonia)

Coordinator

Open Lithuania Foundation

As we are stepping into the post-COVID-19 era, we are to deal with new political and societal realities. The pandemic highlighted persistent problems in the region, such as poorly functioning institutions and weak political culture. Countless top-down restrictive measures by national and EU decision makers resulted in diminished appreciation for democracy and fundamental rights in partner countries. Significant increase in popular support for military rule, appetite for strongman leadership, and support for populists – those are some of the changes observed in the societies of the Baltic states.

This project will elevate public debates on challenging issues, and will identify practical solutions for tackling COVID-19 effects on the quality of democracy and enjoyment of human rights. Project‘s smooth implementation will increase citizens‘ awareness about the EU rights and values, and will contribute to the culture of democratic debate in partner countries.

Project goals

  • To inform the public and policymakers about Covid-19 impact with regards to appreciation for
    democracy, democratic debate and fundamental rights in Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.
  • To stimulate democracy-friendly culture, organizing debates on acute societal issues involving
    citizens from different walks of life.
  • To increase interest in EU level politics by connecting local and national issues to the future of
    the EU and raise awareness of the inter-linkages.
  • To bring citizens, national and EU policy-makers closer together.
  • To increase public awareness on the importance of civic and political participation in national
    and EP elections and encourage MEPs candidate to further promote the respect of human rights
    and democratic culture in the Baltics and in the EU

Project activities

  • Discussion festival “BŪTENT”

Event description sheet

Event description sheet

  • OMNIBUS survey

Event description sheet

  • FOCUS group

Event description sheet

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.