How well is Europe governing—and how has that changed over the past two decades?
The 2026 European Berggruen Governance Index (EBGI) examines democratic accountability, state capacity, and public goods provision across 39 Council of Europe countries from 2000 to 2023.
The report finds a striking pattern: public goods provision increased across every country, while state capacity largely stagnated and democratic accountability declined after 2010. The researchers identify three distinct “governance worlds” across Europe and find evidence of convergence from below, as improvements in public goods have helped narrow the gap between countries even as democratic accountability has diverged.
The report also highlights Europe-specific challenges, including the risks associated with low productivity and high borrowing for non-investment spending.
