Author: Maxence

Cultivating Resilience: Tsovak Settlement Pioneers Climate-Smart Water Management

Written by Maxence on 08/07/2025. Posted in Uncategorized.

Lianna: “Tsovak community in Armenia’s Gegharkunik region is at the forefront of an ambitious initiative to transform its agricultural landscape, enhancing both land irrigation and climate change resilience through the “Introduction of Low-Carbon Solutions for Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources in Tsovak Community” project.

For decades, Tsovak faced severe challenges, with approximately 70% of its 645 hectares of arable land left unirrigated due to inaccessible water resources and decaying infrastructure. This led to alarming rates of land degradation, desertification, and fodder shortages, exacerbating socio-economic hardships for rural households.

In response, the project has thoroughly addressed these critical issues. A key achievement involved clarifying the ownership of the Tsovak pumping station. Through a Government of Armenia decree, the station was officially transferred to the Gegharkunik Water User Association.”

Lianna: “Innovation in low-carbon solutions is at the heart of this project. A 20-kilowatt solar photovoltaic station has been successfully installed and is operational within the pumping station area, demonstrating a commitment to renewable energy and reduced emissions. Powerful, energy-efficient pumps have been procured and are ready for installation, poised to draw water from the River Mets Masrik and irrigate up to 500 hectares of land.”

Lianna: “Collaboration has been key to rapid progress. The project included the installation of approximately 4.05 km of irrigation pipelines and the establishment of five demonstration farms in Tsovak, Lusakunq, Torfavan, Lchavan, and Akunq, promoting new climate-resilient high-value crops and modern irrigation practices. This ensures practical knowledge transfer to local farmers. The project also organised three training sessions and published three information leaflets on climate mitigation and adaptation, land degradation prevention, and carbon sequestration practices.”

Lianna: “Expected outcomes are transformative: The project anticipates providing irrigation to 300 hectares of arable land, significantly reducing land degradation and fostering sustainable land use practices. Farmers and local self-government representatives will benefit from enhanced capacities through targeted training and information campaigns. The improved agricultural output is set to boost farmer incomes and improve the socio-economic conditions of rural households. While approximately 300 hectares will immediately become irrigable with furrow irrigation, a future transition to modern irrigation systems promises to expand this to nearly twofold, solidifying Tsovak’s climate resilience and securing its agricultural future.”

About the project

Launched in December 2022 and completed in June 2025, this large-scale endeavor is testament to impactful partnerships. Implemented by “BLEJAN” Ecological, social, business support NGO (a member of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum) through funding from the UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme with a total amount of USD 50,000, the project benefits from significant co-financing of USD 55,840 leveraged from Vardenis Municipality and the “Gegharkunik” Water User Association. This substantial co-financing underscores a robust collaborative effort, enabling the project to introduce low carbon solutions for sustainable management of land and water resources, and promote climate-resilient agricultural practices in the community.

To find out more

Find out more about Blejan NGO and this project on their website: https://blejanngo.org/

The Eastern Partnership Index 2025 is out!

Written by Maxence on 01/07/2025. Posted in Uncategorized.

Brussels, 1 July 2025

The Eastern Partnership Index 2025, launched in the European Parliament last Thursday, offers a unique and comprehensive overview of reform efforts in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Marking its 10th edition, the Index assesses both progress and setbacks between July 2023 and March 2025 in key areas such as democracy, good governance, the rule of law, policy convergence with the European Union, and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The findings are based on contributions from over 60 independent experts across Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, ensuring that analysis is grounded in local knowledge and independent expertise. The Index highlights challenges and opportunities, and offers concrete policy recommendations for the EU, EaP governments, and civil society.

“The Index makes a particularly important impact by spotlighting the kinds of issues that are important to civil society, but which often get sidestepped.” Kerry Longhurst, EaP Index Executive Editor

Selected findings from the 2025 Edition:

The EU enlargement dynamic:  Despite numerous external and internal hurdles, Moldova and Ukraine – the top performers in the Index – have made progress in several thematic areas of the Index, including state accountability, independent media, market economy, environment, and transport policies. However, continued efforts are needed to close the remaining gaps, especially in the independence of the judiciary, human rights and protection mechanisms, democratic rights, elections and pluralism, fight against corruption – key areas for the EU’s accession agenda.

Georgia’s democratic decline: While Georgia’s overall score remains the same as in 2023, sharp declines in democratic rights, elections and pluralism, state accountability, independent media, freedoms of opinion, expression, assembly and association, independence of the judiciary, fight against corruption underscore a significant departure from EU norms. The country has now moved to the 4th place in the EaP Index. Nonetheless, Georgian civil society remains strongly pro-European and continues to champion democratic values.

Ukraine’s progress amid Russia’s war: Despite the ongoing full-scale war, Ukraine has increased its overall Index score and is in the second position, after Moldova. Improvements across several thematic areas of the Index demonstrate the resilience of Ukrainian society and a government-wide commitment to EU integration and democratic values, even under Martial Law. At the same time, institutional and governance reforms remain critical areas that require sustained attention.

Armenia’s rise to third place in the Index, behind Moldova and Ukraine, marks a significant move toward EU alignment. Although challenges remain, the country’s progress reflects growing promise and is supported by the strong democratic commitment of its civil society.

Authoritarianism persists: Azerbaijan and Belarus continue to be the worst performers in the EaP Index, with a dire human rights situation. Both countries maintain the imprisonment of political prisoners and have escalated the persecution of journalists and civil society. Since the 2023 edition, there has been little to no improvement; in fact, conditions have either stagnated or deteriorated further.

Connectivity advances: Most EaP countries have improved their physical connectivity with the EU and for some of them with their neighbours too. This includes more joint border operations, upgraded transport links, and harmonised customs and border systems in line with EU standards. Though much more needs to be done, progress in this area bodes well for trade and people to people contacts.

Trade versus business environment:  While trade volumes with the EU remain robust, structural weaknesses persist. EaP countries continue to struggle with shadow economies, poor labour protections, and limited business reforms, all of which hamper sustainable growth, labour market development and tax revenue potential.

“As the Index reveals, progress in one area of reform does not always translate into systemic change. Advances in legal or institutional frameworks may coexist with stagnation, or even backsliding, in political accountability, human rights, or the protection of civic space. Reforms can be uneven, sometimes symbolic, and often fragile. That is why a comprehensive, sector- by-sector analysis like the one offered in this Index is indispensable. It enables us to identify gaps, highlight inconsistencies, and better target efforts for deeper and more sustainable transformation.” Lasha Tughushi and Gurgen Petrosyan, Co-Chairs of the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum.

Read the EaP Index

Click here to read the 2025 edition of the EaP Index

About the Eastern Partnership Index

The Eastern Partnership Index (EaP Index or the Index) is a unique data driven civil society produced monitoring tool that charts reform developments in the six Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine) towards democracy, good governance and rule of law, policy convergence with the EU and sustainable development. The EaP Index is produced by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum with the financial support of the European Union.

About the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum brings together 1200+ Civil Society Organisations from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine and the EU. It is a multi-layered regional civil society platform that promotes European values and agenda in the Eastern Partnership, a joint initiative of the European Union, together with its member states, and the six Eastern European countries.

2025 EaP Index launch at the European Parliament

Release of 14 Belarusian political prisoners

Written by Maxence on 24/06/2025. Posted in Uncategorized.

Vilnius, Brussels, 24 June

On 21 June 2025, 14 Belarusian political prisoners were released through the mediation of the US administration.

We, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and its Belarusian National Platform, welcome this decision and see it as one of the few positive signals in the context of the ongoing repression by the Lukashenka regime.

At the same time, we emphasise:

This release is not a systemic solution to the problem of political repression. Hundreds of people remain imprisoned solely for exercising their civil and political rights.
The release must be unconditional. We condemn the practice of forced “requests for pardon”, public repentance, or other forms of moral and psychological pressure.
Released individuals must be fully rehabilitated and reinstated into civic life without restrictions — including, the annulment of convictions, restoration of the right to practice their profession, participate in elections, and enjoy freedom of movement.
Civil society and the international community must continue to demand the full release of all political prisoners, an end to repression, and the restoration of the rule of law in Belarus.

We call on:

The authorities of the Republic of Belarus — to end political repression and release all those imprisoned for their beliefs,
The European Union, its Member States, and the Eastern Partnership countries — to step up their commitment to the release of all political prisoners currently held behind bars in Belarus,
International organisations — to continue supporting Belarusian civil society initiatives, journalists, human rights defenders, and the families of political prisoners.

The release of 14 people is only the beginning of a long and difficult path to democracy.

We remain in solidarity with all those who are fighting for freedom, dignity, and human rights in our country.

“The Index spotlights important issues often sidestepped”

Written by Maxence on 23/06/2025. Posted in Uncategorized.

The Eastern Partnership (EaP) Index is the civil society-led monitoring tool, developed by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. It is grounded in input from experts in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

The EaP Index uses a comprehensive methodology covering 14 policy areas, tracks progress on Sustainable Development Goals and includes an analysis of gender-related issues in the region.

The Eastern Partnership Index has gained notable visibility over the years. What sets it apart from other similar tools?

Kerry Longhurst: The EaP Index stands out due to its comprehensive and interdisciplinary design which tracks political, economic, social, and institutional developments across all six Eastern Partnership countries. Another defining feature is its unique civil society-driven approach. With local experts contributing directly to the gathering and analysis of data, the Index is assuredly credible and relevant. Moreover, the Index isn’t just analytical; it is solidly policy-oriented. The findings and recommendations directly inform EU policy on enlargement and future Eastern Partnership strategies.

How would you assess the impact of the Index so far?

Kerry Longhurst: Each edition proved to be a timely diagnostic tool and comparative measure to gauge the six EaP states’ alignment with EU laws, norms, and policies. The Index makes a particularly important impact by spotlighting the kinds of issues that are important to civil society, but which often get sidestepped in official governmental or EU reporting. Furthermore, the EaP Index presents salient case studies and recommendations which create focal points for policy development and innovation for the EU, national authorities and civil society.

Just as importantly, the creation of the EaP Index has fostered a ‘community of practice’, in the form of a network of like-minded regional experts and stakeholders who are collectively invested in democratic development and European integration.

The Index makes a particularly important impact by spotlighting the kinds of issues that are important to civil society, but which often get sidestepped in official governmental or EU reporting.

Can you share some highlights from the 2025 edition?

Kerry Longhurst: Certainly. The following findings stand out this year:

The EU enlargement dynamic is on track: The candidate states are edging closer to EU laws, norms and policies despite inclement geopolitical conditions. Both Moldova and Ukraine improved their scores in the spheres of democratic rights, state accountability and independent media, which reflects a positive shift towards meeting the EU’s conditionality in some of the most demanding negotiation clusters.
Armenia has secured third place in the Index: This has ‘re-set’ the previous Index pattern of results and is testimony to Armenia’s positive alignment with the EU, which is backed by the democratic fortitude of the country’s civil society. Though significant gaps in Armenia’s performance persist, the country is evidently well on the way to securing itself an EU future.
Connectivity Gains: Most EaP countries have improved their physical connectivity with the EU and for some of them with their neighbours too. This includes more joint border operations, upgraded transport links, and harmonised customs and border systems in line with EU standards. Though much more needs to be done, progress in this area bodes well for trade and people to people contacts. The steady rise of connectivity shows that the EU and portions of the EaP region are ‘growing together’.
Georgia’s Democratic Decline: The ruling party’s dismantling of democracy and palpable de-Europeanisation is strongly reflected in the country’s Index performance. Though its overall score did not alter, the country’s performance in human rights, state accountability, independent media, fundamental freedoms, judicial independence and the fight against corruption declined sharply, which illustrates a massive regression from core EU norms. At the same time, civil society in Georgia remains stridently pro-EU and has become a powerful vanguard of democracy.
Trade vs. Business Environment: While trade volumes with the EU remain robust, structural weaknesses persist. Many EaP states continue to struggle with shadow economies, poor labour protections, and limited business reforms, all of which hamper sustainable growth, labour protections and tax revenue potential.

The Index includes a gender dimension. Why is that important, and what does it reveal?

Kerry Longhurst: Gender equality is a core principle of democratic governance, which also means that democratic backsliding has a gendered dimension. In an EaP context gender equality is also a core ingredient of resilience building and society’s capacity to ‘bounce forwards’ in its development. With this in mind, the EaP Index attempts to consider gender across all of its core themes and thus resists treating it as a ‘side dish’. The 2025 findings show that despite gains in education and health, systemic barriers often mean that gender gaps persist in political participation levels, legal rights, the work place, access to energy, and unpaid work in the home. In both EU and EaP settings, change is not as swift as it needs to be. The EaP Index shows that all stakeholders need to identify the ‘intersectional’ sources of gender gaps and come up with novel solutions and remedies to benefit society as a whole. The EU accession process should be taken as an opportunity to reinforce gender equality norms across the EU Acquis.

Kerry Longhurst is the Executive Editor of the Eastern Partnership Index 2025.

Additional resources

The full Eastern Partnership Index 2025 will be made available on our dedicated webpage on 26 June 2025: https://eap-csf.eu/what-we-do/eap-index/

Georgia’s Foreign Agents Law: A Grave Threat to Democracy

Written by Maxence on 12/06/2025. Posted in Uncategorized.

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) Steering Committee strongly condemns the entry into force of Georgia’s Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA law) on May 31, 2025. This repressive law is a further escalation in the ruling Georgian Dream party’s campaign to suppress dissent, intimidate civil society, and silence independent media.

The Georgian authorities continue weaponising legislation by compelling civil society organisations, media outlets, and even individuals to register as “foreign agents” if they receive international funding and engage in vaguely defined “political activity”. The law’s punitive provisions, including prison sentences of up to five years, contradict Georgia’s constitutional commitment to European integration and violate core democratic values.

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum stands in full solidarity with Georgian civil society, journalists, and citizens who continue to resist authoritarian backsliding and fight for a European future, and calls on:

The Georgian authorities:

To immediately repeal the FARA law and end the weaponisation of legislation against democratic actors;

The European Union and its Member States:

To intensify political, diplomatic, and financial support for Georgian civil society and to hold accountable those responsible for democratic backsliding;
To step up their commitment to unanimously agree on targeted sanctions against Georgian politicians, judges and prosecutors, especially those involved in targeting civil society, beyond visa suspension mechanism;

The international community and donors:

To redirect support away from state institutions complicit in repression, and to stand firmly with independent voices in Georgia.

The EaP CSF will continue to support all those in Georgia who are defending human rights, freedom of expression, and the rule of law, the foundation of Georgia’s rightful place in the European family.

The Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

Environmental security in the EaP countries: state of play, challenges and opportunities

Written by Maxence on 29/04/2025. Posted in Uncategorized.

This Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Working Group 3 policy paper explores the environmental security situation in Eastern Partnership countries, particularly in light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

The paper seeks to understand the main challenges and opportunities in this field and highlight the extent to which energy and climate change challenges impact environmental security in the region.

We invite you to read and download the policy paper below or the summary from the event here.

EaP CSF WG3 Policy Paper Final Download

Resilient democracies in the EaP and the EU: Strengthening civil society’s capacities

Written by Maxence on 28/04/2025. Posted in Uncategorized.

This Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Working Group 4 policy paper highlights the role of non-formal/informal education and empowerment of marginalised groups and how media literacy can be leveraged to combat mis/disinformation.

The paper insists on the role that lifelong learning can play in reaching sustainable development and digital transformation goals. It also proposes to establish new ways of communicating between the European Union and Eastern Partnership to enhance regional cooperation and ensure the participation of civil society in decision-making and in countering anti-democratic and autocratic tendencies.

We invite you to read and download the policy paper below.

Please note this policy paper was launched during a public event on 13 May 2025. A summary of the discussion can be found here.

EaP CSF Policy Paper WG4 Download

Advancing Economic and Digital Transformation in the Eastern Partnership region

Written by Maxence on 25/04/2025. Posted in Uncategorized.

This EaP CSF policy paper highlights how civil society organisations contribute to advancing digital transformation by fostering inclusive governance, advocating for transparency, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in leveraging digital tools.

The paper assesses the policies and frameworks that facilitate the active participation of civil society in economic and digital transformation, highlighting both the opportunities and barriers they encounter.

Through an analysis of success stories from various EaP countries, it identifies best practices that have led to tangible improvements in digital governance and economic resilience. The paper also provides strategic recommendations for CSOs, national authorities, and the donor community, emphasising the need for structured collaboration, capacity-building initiatives, and policy adjustments to foster sustainable digital and economic transformation in the EaP region.

We invite you to read the policy paper below or the summary from the launch event here.

EaP CSF Policy Paper Working Group 2 Download

Advancing democratisation in the Eastern Partnership countries: the role of CSO in national reforms and European integration

Written by Maxence on 22/04/2025. Posted in Uncategorized.

This EaP CSF policy paper highlights the main challenges faced by civil society in effectively participating in decision-making processes for national reforms aimed at democratisation in the Eastern Partnership countries.

In the Eastern Partnership, civil society remains a trusted partner and agent of change, promoting European values and sustainable democratic reform.

Civil society continues to play a key role in pushing for democratic reforms, ensuring accountability, and sustaining public engagement in European integration. However, shrinking civic spaces, growing state repression against civic activists, media and civil society, and the absence of structured participation mechanisms undermine its effectiveness. The halt of the US funding is further impacting civil society’s capacity to operate and remain relevant.

The paper analyses the state of play and best practices that could be employed to strengthen the role of civil society in promoting democratic transformation and rule of law reforms across all EaP countries.

We invite you to read the policy paper below.

Please note, the policy paper was launched during a public event on Wednesday 14 May 2025. A summary of the discussion can be found here.

EaP CSF Policy Paper WG1 Download

Author: Maxence

About the project

To find out more

Read the EaP Index

About the Eastern Partnership Index

About the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

2025 EaP Index launch at the European Parliament

The Eastern Partnership Index has gained notable visibility over the years. What sets it apart from other similar tools?

How would you assess the impact of the Index so far?

Can you share some highlights from the 2025 edition?

The Index includes a gender dimension. Why is that important, and what does it reveal?

Additional resources

Launch event

Additional resources