Each year, the European Commission releases a report evaluating the state of rule of law and democracy across 27 EU member states and countries seeking accession. The document assesses key factors such as judicial independence, checks and balances, and media freedom – all crucial for ensuring democratic stability. However, despite its importance as a tool for policy debate, the lengthy and complex report is often viewed as inaccessible to journalists and ordinary citizens.

Democracy Reporters Fellowship Overview

The Our Rule of Law Foundation addresses this challenge by engaging with youth fellows across the EU and candidate countries to transform this complex document into an accessible citizen-centric analysis. Thus, the Foundation is recruiting 50-70 Democracy Rapporteurs that will be receiving training from world-renowned experts in EU law, media reporting, and political communication. The Rapporteurs will be trained to write concise analysis rooted in quantitative and qualitative approach. This Pan-European effort aims to create the Our Democracy Report (composed of national chapters) that will be published on the Foundation’s website, publicly available to every citizen.

Programme

The Program is divided into a shared learning section and a group project work. These components include three parts: (i) online classes (Introduction to the Rule of Law Report & Tracking the Rule of Law), (ii) bootcamp (training and collaboration), and (iii)) group project work (mentorship by an experienced national coach, comprehensive database creation, writing the national chapter, translation, briefing).

Timeline

Applications will remain open until 13 January 2025, 23:59 CET.