EDF works closely with our members and associate members in the Central and Eastern European region. 

For a full list please consult the members page 

EDF works with the following EU member state countries in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.  

North Macedonia (2005), Montenegro (2010), Serbia (2012), Albania (2014), Moldova (2022), Ukraine (2022), and Bosnia and Herzegovina (2022) have all been recognised as EU accession candidate countries and as such also fall under the CEE portfolio in the International Cooperation team. EDF also works with Kosovo (whose independence is not recognised by five EU member states) and Georgia which have submitted potential candidature applications in 2022. 

EDF works closely with members and partners in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region on a number of projects, as well in supporting emerging areas and opportunities for advocacy. We work with countries that are member states of the EU and with those in the EU accession process.  

In 2023, EDF CEE Coordination is scaling up to ensure that internally at EDF we are working in harmony, and in a consistent and coordinated manner within the region. Our overall goal in the region is to build the movement in Central and Eastern Europe, to showcase the best practices in the region, as well as ensure learning within Central and Eastern Europe and across EU regions. 

In member states we assist with technical expertise, networks and linkages, trainings and collaborating on various projects. EDF also supports countries in the European External Action Service Human Rights Dialogues and on shadow reports to various relevant monitoring entities but specifically on the CRPD.

• EDF’s inputs for the EU- Human Rights Dialogue on Ukraine (2023)
• EDF’s Statement on the Situation of Persons with Disabilities in Armenia (October 2023)
• EDF’s Statement on the Situation of Persons with Disabilities in Armenia (October 2022)

EDF is increasing our policy and advocacy work around leveraging the European Union accession process to improve disability rights in candidate states. This work is integrated across several projects but most significantly under the CBM Ukraine and Moldova response.