On October 30, 2025, Vilnius (Lithuania) hosted a significant event aimed at empowering the Belarusian civic community in exile. The gathering brought together key stakeholders from the Belarusian community members, civil society organisations from both Belarus and Lithuania, and representatives from ALDA. Co-funded by the German Marshall Fund (GMF), this initiative underscores that the Belarusian struggle for democracy remains vibrant among communities living abroad.

Vilnius has become a crucial hub for Belarusian activists and civic leaders, offering not only safety but also a platform for continued engagement in democratic processes. This event followed ALDA’s earlier meetings with the Belarusian exiled community in Wroclaw and Gdansk, where meaningful discussions were held to better understand the challenges and needs related to democratic participation in exile.

ALDA has a long-standing commitment to supporting Belarus and its democratic forces. Despite the challenges that followed the political events of 2020 in Belarus, we have remained dedicated to maintaining strong communication with key advocates of Belarusian democracy.

Key Highlights of the Meeting

The conference agenda was thoughtfully designed to facilitate constructive dialogue, featuring speakers and roundtable discussions.

Opening remarks from ALDA Secretary General Antonella Valmorbida and EuroBelarus Director Tatiana Poshevalova laid the groundwork for the discussions, introducing the key objectives of the Local Democracy Agency (LDA) in Exile initiative. They emphasised that the LDA Belarus in Exile aims to empower the Belarusian community representatives to engage actively in local democratic processes and promote civic resilience while adapting to their new environments.

During the first roundtable session, the annual needs assessment conducted among Belarusian exiles was presented. Belarusian community members actively participated in an open discussion, offering valuable feedback on the LDA initiative and suggesting steps for its future development. The second roundtable, led by Yaroslav Bekish, focused on mechanisms that support Belarusian civic engagement in Lithuania. Participants shared their experiences with local laws, integration initiatives, and the positive impact of existing support systems. This collaborative environment enabled Belarusians to identify concrete opportunities for participating in local democratic processes.

The overarching goal of the conference was to strengthen collaboration between Belarusian CSOs, community members, and Lithuanian civic actors. As ALDA continues to build bridges within this community, the organisation is dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by Belarusians abroad. “We don’t just want to be leaders in this field; we aspire to be leaders in society,” expressed one participant, echoing the sentiment that the path forward requires collective effort and shared responsibility.

The launch of the LDA Belarus in Exile represents a crucial initiative as it works to provide Belarusian citizens in exile with meaningful avenues for engagement in their host countries. The initiative embodies ALDA’s commitment to promoting participatory democracy, community development, and inclusive governance while actively addressing the unique challenges faced by the Belarusian community members in Exile. 

Through events like this, ALDA reiterates its unyielding commitment to supporting Belarusian civic engagement. By fostering a participatory model that integrates the Belarusian voice within local democracy frameworks, the LDA Belarus in Exile is poised to play an instrumental role in shaping a resilient community committed to advancing democratic values both in Belarus and across Europe.

As we move forward, our collaborative efforts will be vital in empowering Belarusians to reclaim their agency and participate actively in shaping their futures, regardless of where they find themselves. Together, we can build the foundations for a democratic Belarus, no matter the circumstances.

On 28 October 2025, ALDA – the European Association for Local Democracy, together with the Council of Europe, hosted the online international conference “Connected for Democracy: Civil Society and the Council of Europe in Action.”

This event marked the conclusion of the project The BRIDGE to the CoE – Building Resilience and Independence for Democratic Governance and Engagement with the Council of Europe, implemented by ALDA in partnership with the Council of Europe.

The conference brought together civil society representatives, local democracy practitioners, and institutional partners from across Southern and Eastern Europe to discuss democratic participation, civic engagement, and the future implementation of the Reykjavik Principles for Democracy.

Opening remarks were delivered by Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA’s Secretary General, followed by a keynote from Christophe Speckbacher, Head of the Civil Society Unit at the Council of Europe.

Viorica Tudos, Project Manager, highlighted how the project has strengthened civil dialogue and raised awareness of Council of Europe recommendations and guidelines for NGOs and wider civil society.

A panel discussion on “Civic Space and Democratic Participation following the Reykjavik Principles for Democracy” featured Ivana Velkova (ALDA Skopje), Christophe Speckbacher (Council of Europe), and Nadejda Pascaru-Botnaru (People in Need Moldova), while case studies from Italy, Moldova, and Ukraine showcased inspiring examples of local democratic action and civic empowerment.

The BRIDGE to the CoE project has built lasting connections between institutions and citizens, strengthening the foundations of democratic resilience across Europe.

Key Moments of the Project

Throughout its implementation, The BRIDGE to the CoE created meaningful synergies between European institutions and local democracy actors through a series of participatory activities:

• Rome, Italy – ALDA General Assembly 2025: presentation of The BRIDGE to the CoE as one of ALDA’s flagship initiatives.
  
• Thiene, Italy: event “The CoE and the Modalities of Civil Society Involvement”, hosted at Villa Fabris under the patronage of the Municipality of Thiene.
  
• Shades of Democracy Podcast: episode “Strengthening Democracy Together” featuring Lotta Valtonen (Council of Europe) and Katica Janeva (ALDA Balkans).
  
• Chișinău, Moldova: international conference “Council of Europe Standards for Civil Society and Instruments of Civil Participation”, gathering over 70 participants.
  
• ALDA Talk: webinar on democracy and the role of civil society in shaping participatory governance.
  

From 15 to 17 October, the Monastery of Camaldoli (Tuscany) hosted the third edition of Forum Civica – “Cultivating Democracy. A Look at the Future of Institutions”, bringing together leading scholars, public officials, and civil society representatives to explore how democratic participation can regenerate trust between citizens and institutions.

Forum Civica has become an important space for dialogue on democratic innovation in Italy, bringing together voices from institutions, academia, and civil society. Its third edition focused on the relationship between trust, participation, and the evolving role of local governance in shaping the public good.

This year’s discussions echoed broader European debates on how to rebuild civic confidence and strengthen social cohesion in a time of polarisation and disinformation.

During the roundtable “Institutions and Society: Allies in Building the Common Good,” moderated by the Florence School of Transnational Governance of the European University Institute, Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of ALDA, presented the Association’s thirty years of experience in promoting local democracy and participatory governance.

She emphasised that “democracy is much more than voting — it is the daily act of participation and care for the common good.” Through its vast network of 300 members and thousands of partners, ALDA continues to demonstrate how cooperation between local authorities and civil society can strengthen trust, foster innovation, and make communities more resilient.

“Local democracy strengthens democracy itself and it’s the only antidote to the democracy crisis we are experiencing,” stated Valmorbida. “Strong local authorities and organised citizens form the backbone of an inclusive and effective governance model. Where these two actors work together to develop initiatives, social cohesion grows, resources multiply, and people feel part of their community. Nevertheless, it’s key to follow up on those initiatives to transform dialogue into concrete results, ensuring that participation remains meaningful rather than symbolic.

She also recalled the need to empower municipalities, “the first guardians of democracy,” by ensuring they have the skills and resources necessary to act effectively within their territories.

Valmorbida’s remarks resonated with ALDA’s long-standing mission to connect citizens and local authorities through inclusive governance. Drawing from ALDA’s extensive fieldwork — from the Western Balkans to North Africa — she underlined how local participatory mechanisms such as co-design workshops, civic labs, and participatory budgeting can restore citizens’ sense of ownership over democratic institutions.

“A democracy that listens and co-creates is a democracy that endures,” she added.

The roundtable, featuring contributions from Giovanni Allegretti (University of Coimbra) and Nicoletta Parisi (University of Catania, Movimento Europeo Italia), highlighted how cooperation, integrity, and trust remain the cornerstones of a renewed democratic pact between citizens and institutions.

The event was part of Forum Civica 2025, organised by the Next Generation EuroPA Foundation with the scientific support of the Florence School of Transnational Governance and under the patronage of the European Parliament, the Italian Ministry of Public Administration and the Tuscany Region, among others Arezzo.