The Institute of Public Affairs (ISP) hosted a delegation from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) for a working meeting focused on regional cooperation and current challenges facing democratic systems in Central and Eastern Europe.
The delegation included Scott Bates, Regional Director for Europe and Eurasia, and Zuzana Papazoski, Resident Senior Director for Central Europe. The meeting was held with the participation of ISP President Jacek Kucharczyk.
This was the first visit of Scott Bates to ISP, and at the same time another opportunity to continue long-standing cooperation with Zuzana Papazoski. ISP and NDI have been working together for over two decades to support civil society across the region. A recent example of this collaboration is the project “Promoting Citizen Engagement in Political Processes in Hungary and Poland” (2023–2025).
The discussion covered several key areas.
Participants exchanged views on the evolving geopolitical context and the implications for NDI’s activities in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in light of ongoing political developments in the region and in the United States.
Disinformation was identified as one of the most pressing challenges for democratic systems. The discussion highlighted its impact on public debate in Poland, especially in areas such as Polish-Ukrainian relations, migration, and climate policy. The need for stronger international cooperation and knowledge-sharing mechanisms to counter disinformation was emphasized.
Another important topic was the strengthening of cooperation between Polish and Ukrainian civil societies, including think tanks and analytical institutions. Participants underlined the importance of maintaining and expanding cross-border collaboration in response to current political and social challenges.
The meeting also addressed the situation in Hungary and potential avenues for supporting civil society organizations in the process of rebuilding democratic institutions. In this context, Poland’s post-2023 experience was discussed as a possible reference point.
The visit reaffirmed the importance of long-term transatlantic cooperation among civil society organizations. Continued exchange of expertise and coordinated action remain essential for strengthening democratic resilience in the region.
The delegation included Scott Bates, Regional Director for Europe and Eurasia, and Zuzana Papazoski, Resident Senior Director for Central Europe. The meeting was held with the participation of ISP President Jacek Kucharczyk.
This was the first visit of Scott Bates to ISP, and at the same time another opportunity to continue long-standing cooperation with Zuzana Papazoski. ISP and NDI have been working together for over two decades to support civil society across the region. A recent example of this collaboration is the project “Promoting Citizen Engagement in Political Processes in Hungary and Poland” (2023–2025).
The discussion covered several key areas.
Participants exchanged views on the evolving geopolitical context and the implications for NDI’s activities in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in light of ongoing political developments in the region and in the United States.
Disinformation was identified as one of the most pressing challenges for democratic systems. The discussion highlighted its impact on public debate in Poland, especially in areas such as Polish-Ukrainian relations, migration, and climate policy. The need for stronger international cooperation and knowledge-sharing mechanisms to counter disinformation was emphasized.
Another important topic was the strengthening of cooperation between Polish and Ukrainian civil societies, including think tanks and analytical institutions. Participants underlined the importance of maintaining and expanding cross-border collaboration in response to current political and social challenges.
The meeting also addressed the situation in Hungary and potential avenues for supporting civil society organizations in the process of rebuilding democratic institutions. In this context, Poland’s post-2023 experience was discussed as a possible reference point.
The visit reaffirmed the importance of long-term transatlantic cooperation among civil society organizations. Continued exchange of expertise and coordinated action remain essential for strengthening democratic resilience in the region.
