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This working paper analyses the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in four selected European Union Member States (EUMS) which provide democracy support in the EU’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods. We presuppose that CSOs re one of the key actors in this process. This working paper is anchored in the concept of embedded democracy (Merkel, 2004; Merkel & Kneip, 2018). We focus on the activities of CSOs in France, Italy, Sweden and Poland. This selection aims to represent EUMS’ different geopolitical interests and varying lengths of EU membership. We assume that these two factors affect the priorities of CSOs regarding the geographical focus and substantive content of their activities. CSOs in elected EUMS differ in their objectives, missions, financial independence and autonomy levels. However, their involvement raises important questions about the role of CSOs in democracy support practices. In line with the SHAPEDEM-EU approach, we assume that CSOs as political actors also constitute local Communities of Practices (CoP). Hence, our research aims to contribute to understanding local democracy practices and discourses related to CSO activities. On the one hand, we observed that many CSOs can positively contribute to democracy, stability, and justice. On the other hand, however, they might – often unintentionally – contribute to instability in partner countries. Some CSOs also promote non-democratic or illiberal values. Based on political development in the EU’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods, we observe the limited impact of civil society on democratisation in some partner countries. This poses a question about CSOs’ ability to assist in implementing democratic change. This paper also investigates how a different model of CSO funding impacts their activities and, ultimately, their role in the overall democratic support of the EUMS in the EU’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods.