The European Foundation for Democracy (EFD) was launched in November 2005 as a centre of intellectual risk-taking. We take action to support universal human rights, freedom of conscience, individual liberty, and pluralism of peaceful ideas.

EFD was founded by concerned Europeans, Muslim and non-Muslim, who recognised the need to unite individuals and organisations from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds in a coordinated defence of European values and interests against the threat of authoritarian ideologies.

Based in Brussels, EFD is present at the centre of the European political arena. EFD has also created strong alliances with like-minded individuals and organisations throughout the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and North America.

EFD takes action by:

* Promoting universal human rights, freedom of conscience, individual liberty and pluralism of peaceful ideas;

* Supporting Muslim liberal-democrats and reformers in voicing their views on issues from global inter-dependence to women’s equality, minority rights, media accountability, transparent government;

* Through experts, raising awareness about the threat of terrorist ideologies in Europe; and

* Emphasising the empowerment of indigenous democratic reformers in closed societies and showing how their work can benefit progressive European policy in areas such as immigration and integration.