"Goals not met": Prien overhauls 'Democracy lives' funding program - Germany's Democracy in Action faces drastic cuts under new funding overhaul

Germany's Democracy in Action initiative is facing major changes as Education Minister Karin Prien announces plans to overhaul its funding. The programme, designed to boost civic engagement and fight radicalisation, will see cuts to over 200 projects by the end of the year. Critics, particularly from the conservative CDU/CSU bloc, have long questioned whether the money is being spent effectively.

Since its launch in 2015, Democracy in Action has funded more than 13,000 projects. Organisations like the Amadeu Antonio Foundation and the Network for Democratic Education have received continuous support since the beginning. However, Prien argues that the programme's results do not justify its costs and that its goals are not being met in a lasting way.

The ministry will now focus funding on local institutions such as schools, sports clubs, and libraries. These groups are seen as better placed to strengthen social cohesion. At the same time, two key areas will be scrapped: the development of a nationwide infrastructure and innovation projects aimed at reaching new audiences.

Digital efforts to counter online radicalisation will receive a significant funding boost. Meanwhile, the 2026 federal budget still allocates €191 million to the initiative. Future projects will be evaluated independently to measure their real impact on society.

The changes mean that many long-standing projects will lose financial backing by December. Affected organisations include the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, BUND, HateAid, Correctiv, the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The ministry insists the new approach will ensure funding delivers clearer, more sustainable results.