On 6 and 7 March, the Council of Europe working group on Parameters for the application and implementation of the Reykjavík Principles for Democracy (GT-P) discussed how to implement in practice the Principles of Democracy agreed by Heads of State and Government in Reykjavík in May 2023, through a set of operational parameters.

The parameters provide a blueprint for supporting efforts to safeguard and advance democratic security and futureproofing it in the face of current and emerging challenges. They are divided in five inter-related pillars: democratic participation; democratic institutions; democratic governance and integrity; democratic freedoms, inclusion and civil society; and democratic future.

The Parameters will assist member States in achieving the resilience of their democratic systems in the face of current and future challenges such as the declining quality of elections, citizens’ faltering trust in elected representatives, the shrinking of civic space and the use of excessive force against civil society actors, the (mis)use of the judiciary to undermine political opposition, or the polarisation of the political environment, including through hate speech, often targeting people in vulnerable situations. 

The next meeting of the GT-P will take place on 13-14 October 2025.