Season’s Message from the Board of Directors
As the year comes to an end, the Christmas and New Year period invites us to reflect. Across all of Europe and its eastern neighbourhood, the values of peace, freedom, and human dignity are under pressure as never before. Strengthening democratic resilience is therefore not a choice, but a necessity.
To address these challenges, the EU Awareness Centre was established to promote democratic reforms, good governance, and the principles that underpin the European Union in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood. While Georgia remains at the heart of our mission, our work extends to other EU-aspiring countries in the region, which face similar challenges: persistent disinformation, authoritarian narratives, and Soviet-era stereotypes that undermine trust, distort public debate, and weaken democratic institutions.
In less than a year since its establishment, the EU Awareness Centre has focused on building a strong analytical foundation, engaging the public through expert dialogue, and bringing experienced professionals and international advisers into its team. Through research, advocacy, and public engagement, we provide policymakers, civil society actors, and the broader public with fact-based information, develop credible assessments, foster informed discussion, and lay the groundwork for cooperation with civil society and European partners. These efforts are guided by a simple principle: democracy needs not only institutions but also informed citizens, for whom knowledge is the best defence against manipulation. Objective narratives must shape public discourse to sustain progress.
As we look ahead to the coming year, the challenges before us remain substantial. Yet so too does our determination. Advancing transparency, accountability, and democratic standards is not only vital for countries aspiring to join the European Union; it is a shared European responsibility. The security and stability of Europe depend on the success of democratic transformation in its neighbourhood. Therefore, the countries on Europe’s eastern frontier should not be seen as buffer zones, but as co-authors of the continent’s security and political order.
We invite all those who share these principles to stand with us. Support for the EU Awareness Centre, whether through engagement, advocacy, or financial contribution, is an investment in a more informed, resilient, and united Europe. Together, we can counter disinformation, strengthen democratic institutions, and support a European future based on freedom, dignity, and the rule of law.
On behalf of the EU Awareness Centre, we wish you a joyful Christmas and a productive New Year.
The Board of Directors