Europe divided into three groups. 12 countries improved their position

The European Berggruen Governance Index (EBGI) analyses how states function in terms of the quality of democracy, the quality of governance, and citizens' living conditions. The study covered 39 European countries, with data spanning the period from 2000 to 2023. Europe continues to achieve high scores. At the same time, the authors of the report “Sustaining and Expanding Europe’s High Governance Performance” point out that improvements in quality of life are no longer accompanied by similar progress in democratic institutions.

European countries continue to dominate the group of consolidated democracies. Fifteen European countries are among the 20 highest-rated countries in the world, and the average quality of governance in Europe is 56 percent higher than outside the continent. In terms of the quality of democracy, the difference amounts to 40 percent. The combined score of the 39 European countries surveyed reaches almost 78 percent. Outside Europe, it is 54 percent.<br /><br />However, data from a longer period show a different trend. Since 2010, the capacity of state institutions to act has remained stagnant, while democratic accountability has declined. The report was authored by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the Berggruen Institute, and the Hertie School in Berlin. They indicate that improvements in residents' living conditions were visible in all 39 European countries analysed. However, these were not accompanied by a comparable strengthening of democratic structures.

Researchers divided the countries analysed into three groups according to the quality of governance. The first consists of countries with strong institutions and high scores, the second mainly of post-communist members of the European Union and countries aspiring to membership, and the third of countries with the weakest scores in democratic accountability. Between 2000 and 2023, 12 countries moved into a higher group. These were Albania, Armenia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Italy, Malta, Moldova, Portugal, Romania, and Slovenia. According to the report, this advancement resulted mainly from improved public services rather than stronger democracy.<br /><br />Among the positive examples, the report highlights Estonia. The country combined EU membership with fiscal discipline, low levels of corruption, and extensive use of digital public administration, enabling it to reach the highest group. Greece represents a contrasting case, with both state capacity and democratic accountability weakening. The report links this process to the economic crisis, loans, austerity policies, and reforms resulting from external financial conditions. The authors also note that some of the improvement in public services in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans was financed with funds from Brussels.

The report indicates that further strengthening of democracy will also depend on public oversight of institutions, over which the EU has limited influence. Researchers list threats to media freedom and the shrinking space for civil society as significant risks to democratic accountability. In their view, media pluralism and civic activity should be treated as elements of the infrastructure needed for the governance system to function.