MSOE-Region - An Introduction

Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation for Liberty was founded in 1958 by a group of Liberals lead by the first President of Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Theodor Heuss.

Its eponym Friedrich Naumann (1860-1919), theologian, liberal politician and publicist, lobbied in the early 20th century-Germany for citizens´ participation in politics. The core element of the foundation’s activities both inside and outside of Germany is the true realization of personal freedom and responsibility.

Office in Sofia

Ever since the dissolution of the Iron Curtain’s in 1989, the Friedrich Naumann foundation became more and more active in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. At the moment, the Regional Office for Central, South and Southeast Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia (MSOE) coordinates activities in 26 different project-countries. The foundation’s main task in the region is to promote democracy, rule of law, pluralism, and free-market economy. In order to achieve that goal, the foundation combines classical instruments of political education, political consulting and political dialog such as conferences, seminars, and study trips. Furthermore, unconventional measures such as drama-performances or liberal forums of discussion are used. In total there are around 400 different activities per year.

In Eastern Europe the foundation successfully fostered the transformation process of former communist states and their integration in the European institutions. For that purpose, the foundation particularly supported local, regional and national initiatives in implementing minority rights, democratic control of security forces and strengthening international coalitions for human rights. Additionally, Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation for Liberty fosters the establishment of democratic structures by promoting liberal political parties and groups. A dense network of democratic parties, human rights organizations and academia is at the heart of its international activities.

The Regional office MSOE has been established in Sofia from March 2007. MSOE region structures itself in the six sub-regions of Central Europe, Eastern Central Europe, Western Balkans, South-Eastern Balkans, East and Southern Caucasus, with each of these covering several countries. It employs a staff of 40 in each of its offices.