Since its establishment, the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) has been promoting the values of freedom and democracy in the European neighbourhood and beyond. A joint effort of European states and EU institutions, the EED is an independent private law foundation based in Brussels.

EED’s activities focus primarily on the European Neighbourhood (Eastern Partnership, Middle East and North Africa regions; since 2015 EED also considers supporting partners in the "neighbours of EU neighbours") and the Western Balkans, aiming to ensure, as far as possible, a geographical balance of engagement and funding between the Eastern and Southern neighbourhood.