Belgium, a country of 30,689 km² located in northwestern Europe, is densely populated with 11.7 million inhabitants and is very open to the rest of the world. Belgium continuously works to make this openness its strongest asset. ...

Denmark’s democracy is robust and is characterized by a high level of political stability. Elections are conducted in an open and democratic manner, and anti-democratic movements remain fringe phenomena.

In many respects, Estonia has successfully established a sustainable democracy. Civil rights and the rule of law are strong, the plurality of opinion in politics and civil society is effective, and both national and household...

A significant shift in sustainable governance occurred in Finland when Sanna Marin’s center-left government was replaced by Petteri Orpo’s right-wing government in June 2023. Marin’s government was known for placing a strong...

France is an average country in Europe with respect to its sustainable governance performance. Despite the continuing rise of the extreme-right party National Rally and continuous debates about the leadership style of President...

Germany’s political system is strengthened by robust and resilient democratic institutions. All public entities are effectively constrained by reliable checks and balances and adherence to the rule of law.

During the period under review, Greece’s political and economic landscape showed notable improvement. As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic diminished, the economy experienced growth, largely driven by increased domestic...

Under the recent Orbán governments (2010 – 2024), Hungary shifted from a fully-fledged democracy to an electoral autocracy. Democratic institutions have been undermined by the ruling party, and state capture has turned them into...

Ireland represents a complex and hybrid policy and political culture, depending on the area it can be described as a “laggard” or “leader.” The power of government is effectively limited by robust democratic accountability...

The past year has been troubling, and posed many challenges to democracy and the sustainability of governance in Israel. Since January 2023, the government has been promoting a judicial overhaul, and democratic backsliding is...