In an era marked by international conflict and rapid technological change, the European Union is stepping up efforts to defend its democratic values. The European Commission
has launched a comprehensive initiative, the European Democracy Shield, aimed at strengthening democratic institutions, countering disinformation, and bolstering civil society across the bloc.
The move comes amid growing attempts by authoritarian regimes to erode trust in free elections, independent media, and the rule of law — the cornerstones of Europe’s democratic model.
Protecting the information space
At the heart of the Democracy Shield are measures to safeguard the integrity of Europe’s information environment. The Commission plans to introduce an incidents and crisis protocol under the Digital Services Act (DSA) to ensure swift, coordinated responses to disinformation campaigns. It will also establish an independent European Network of Fact-Checkers and reinforce support for the European Digital Media Observatory, a hub for monitoring and analysing online information flows.
Reinforcing democratic institutions and media freedom
To ensure free and fair elections, the EU will strengthen the European Cooperation Network on Elections and update the DSA Elections Toolkit. A new Recommendation on the Safety of Journalists and guidance on protecting political actors will also be issued.
Financial support for independent and local journalism will be expanded, alongside modernised advertising rules designed to enhance media sustainability. The Commission further intends to intensify action against strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), which are often used to silence journalists and activists.
Empowering citizens and building resilience
A major focus of the plan is to boost citizens’ engagement and resilience through education and participation. The EU will promote media and digital literacy, develop citizenship education guidelines for schools, and encourage youth involvement in democratic life using new participatory tools. A civic tech hub** and an EU Democracy Guide will also be created to help citizens engage more directly in policymaking.
A new European Centre for Democratic Resilience will be established to help member states counter disinformation, foreign interference, and other evolving threats to democracy.
Supporting civil society
Recognising the essential role of civil society organisations (CSOs), the Commission outlined a three-part strategy to engage, protect, and sustain them.
Engagement: A Civil Society Platform will be launched by 2026 to strengthen dialogue on EU values.
Protection: A new online Knowledge Hub on Civic Space will centralise resources and protective tools for NGOs and activists.
Funding: Under the EU’s next long-term budget, civil society support will see a major boost, with €9 billion earmarked for the new AgoraEU programme alone.
With these initiatives, the European Commission aims to reinforce Europe’s democratic foundations and ensure that citizens, journalists, and civil society can continue to thrive in an open, resilient, and participatory Europe.