Active Citizens Together for the Rule of Law and a Union of Freedoms in Europe
Project number: 101253084
Programme: CERV-2025-CITIZENS-CIV
Type of action: CERV Lump Sum Grant

Project Summary
The project Active Citizens Together for the Rule of Law and a Union of Freedoms in Europe (ACT4RULE) addresses serious democratic challenges in Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, where corruption, disinformation, and civic apathy are increasingly undermining democratic participation.

In response, ACT4RULE mobilises civil society actors – the Zastavme korupciu Foundation, Oživení, Transparency International Hungary, and the Whistleblower Protection Office.

The project promotes democratic literacy among citizens, particularly youth, first-time voters, and marginalised groups, through targeted communication campaigns, public debates, civic festivals, storytelling initiatives, and digital engagement tools.

The aim of ACT4RULE is to counter democratic decline by raising awareness of the harmful effects of corruption, empowering whistleblowers, and strengthening public trust in democratic institutions. Planned activities include international conferences, community discussions, election monitoring initiatives, educational workshops, and cross-border networking.

The project aligns with Priority 3 of the CIV25 call – Promoting Active Citizen Engagement and Democratic Participation – by strengthening participatory democracy, increasing voter turnout, supporting civic initiatives, and building resilience against disinformation and populist narratives.

Through innovative methods and strong cross-sector partnerships, ACT4RULE will directly engage thousands of citizens across the three countries and contribute to a broader, lasting movement for democratic renewal and the rule of law in Central Europe.

Project Duration
Duration: 24 months
Start date: January 2026
End date: December 2027

Funding
Maximum EU grant: EUR 380,435.00
Form of grant: Lump sum
Granting authority: European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)

Project Coordinator
Zastavme korupciu Foundation (NZK)
Staré Grunty 18
841 04 Bratislava
Slovakia

Contact person
E-mail: farkasova@zastavmekorupciu.sk
Website: https://zastavmekorupciu.sk/

Project Partners (beneficiaries)

• Whistleblower Protection Office (WPO), Bratislava, Slovakia
• Transparency International Hungary Foundation, Budapest, Hungary
• Oživení, z. s., Prague, Czech Republic
• Pražská kavárna, z. s., Prague, Czech Republic

Project deliverables:

New Tool for Civil Society: How to Protect Democratic Elections in Central and Eastern Europe

May 2026 · ACT4RULE · Elections · Democracy · Free Download · SK / EN / HU / CZ

Free and fair elections are the foundation of a functioning democracy. Yet we are facing growing threats: disinformation, voter intimidation, manipulation on social media, and the blurring of lines between state and party financing. These threats are not merely abstract—they affect election outcomes and undermine citizens’ trust in democratic institutions.

As part of the ACT4RULE – Active Citizens Together for Rule of Law and Union of Liberties in Europe project, Transparency International Hungary is today publishing a new practical toolkit designed for civil society organisations that want to actively safeguard electoral integrity across the region.

The toolkit builds on the international online conference Safeguarding Democratic Elections in Central and Eastern Europe, held on 17 March 2026 in Budapest. Experts from six countries and the European Parliament shared their experiences, monitoring strategies, and concrete recommendations.

As the coordinator of the ACT4RULE project, Nadácia Zastavme korupciu actively contributes to strengthening democratic participation in Slovakia. We organise public discussions ahead of both local and parliamentary elections, run the Anti-Corruption Academy for young people, and connect citizens with transparency tools. This toolkit represents another step in our collective effort to build a more resilient democracy in Central Europe.

Download the toolkit and share it within your networks. A healthy democracy depends on it.

This publication was produced within the framework of the ACT4RULE project (Grant Agreement No. 101253084), co-funded by the European Union under the CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) Programme. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.