About - Partnership for Good Governance

About the Partnership for Good Governance

The European Union and the Council of Europe are working together to promote the common values of rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and pluralist democracy across Europe and its neighbourhood.

In 2014, the European Union and the Council of Europe launched a common initiative: The Partnership for Good Governance (PGG) programme for the Eastern Partnership countries* to provide support in the implementation of the Eastern Partnership countries’ domestic reforms to strengthen justice, counter economic crime, promote equality and non-discrimination, advance women’s access to justice and combat violence against women in line with European standards.

The Partnership for Good Governance was designed in close consultation with the European Union and the national stakeholders, in line with the Council of Europe’s country-specific Action Plans and the European Union's priorities for the Eastern Partnership region. It has three successive phases: PGG I (2015-2018) , PGG II (2019-2022), PGG III (2023-2027).

Progress in the EU accession agenda is in focus for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, as are improved European perspectives for Georgia. The Partnership for Good Governance programme will also continue supporting Armenia and Azerbaijan and is also foreseen to support co-operation with Belarusian democratic forces and civil society.

What does the Partnership for Good Governance offers:

Technical assistance tailored to each country to help them meet the European standards;
Legal advice on priority reforms through the Council of Europe Quick Response Mechanism.
Assistance under the Partnership for Good Governance, is provided through a variety of activities: legislative review, legal opinions, conferences, seminars, working groups, networking, analytical reports and training sessions led by the Council of Europe staff and international experts.
All Partnership for Good Governance projects follow a human rights approach and address cross-cutting issues such as gender mainstreaming and ensure the inclusive involvement of civil society in the implementation of PGG.
The current phase of the Partnerhsip for Good Governance, also contributes to the domestic implementation of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably to the goal 5 – achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls, to the goal 10 – reducing inequality within and among countries, and to the goal 16 – promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

About the Council of Europe and the European Union

The Council of Europe and the European Union (EU) are separate organisations which have different, yet complementary roles.

The Council of Europe works together with its 46 member States to strengthen human rights, democracy and rule of law across the continent and beyond.
The EU brings its 27 member States closer together both economically and politically by harmonising legislation and practices in certain policy areas.
The two organisations work closely together in areas where they have common interests, notably in promoting human rights and democracy in neighbouring regions.
Co-operation between the European Union and the Council of Europe allows each organisation to benefit from the other’s specific strengths, thereby supporting each other’s work.

* While the Partnership for Good Governance does not include activities with the participation of the Belarusian authorities, in line with the EU policy of non-engagement with Belarusian public bodies and state-owned enterprises enshrined in the EU Council Conclusions of October 2020, activities may be organised with the representatives of Belarusian civil society and democratic actors as appropriate, in line with the European Council Conclusions of February 2022 and the Decision of the Council of Europe Ministers’ Deputies of March 2022.