The European Commission proposed a European Democracy Shield in November 2025. There is no doubt democracy is under threat in Europe, and we support the measures outlined in the Shield as far as they go. In particular, the shield prioritises building the resilience and collective intelligence of the citizenry of Europe through citizenship education. But the shield is characterised by major blind spots, and is in tension with dynamics which the European Commission is also fueling that undermine the fundamentals of democracy. A much more comprehensive approach to advancing democracy is necessary.
The biggest blindspot in the shield is that the most dangerous threat to democracy in Europe arguably comes from within. Member states of the European Union such as Hungary and Slovakia are in serious breach of democratic norms when it comes to the independence of the judiciary, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and freedom and pluralism of the media. The European Commission and European Council continue to take only timid action to address these serious challenges to these fundamentals, which are not only threats to abstract-sounding ideas like the rule of law, but have real consequences on people. Moreover, far-right and populist parties are close to or in power in several other member states, and have a strong representation inside the European Parliament. It is not at all clear how the proposal for a European Centre for Democratic Resilience and a Stakeholder Platform will address the increasing hollowing out of democracy within the EU itself.
Amongst the external threats to democracy in Europe, the United States of America is unfortunately a clear and present danger. The Trump administration has been explicit in its recent national security strategy about this and recent declarations and threats concerning Greenland only corroborate this approach. The European Democracy Shield integrates elements concerning the digital dimension of these hybrid threats, but the European Union must not be naive about the wider threats to the integrity of European democracy, nor the way that trade policy and tariffs are being used as a strategy to undermine European standards, values and integrity. Strongly reinforcing democratic norms in all European policy making, internally and externally, needs to be clearly, resolutely and courageously pursued.
Multiplying crises and urgencies are now frequently invoked both in national governments and by the European Commission to bypass democratic mechanisms and institutions. The increasing centralisation of powers in the European Commission President is part of this trend. Urgency cannot always be presented as the enemy of democracy: Europe needs to develop new democratic tools and institutions to involve citizens and parliamentarians in preparing for, deciding on, and evaluating the effectiveness of crisis responses and all other aspects of the EU’s policy making. Furthermore, deregulation, ‘simplification’ and competitiveness are being used as a way of stripping away protections and rights of people living in Europe. ‘Omnibus’ legislation cannot be used to undo democratic advances and rights, as has happened with the Sustainability and Digital Omnibus packages.
In this context, the special European Parliamentary Committee on the Defence of Democracy created for 1 year was always inadequate, and the scope of its workplan to respond to the Commission proposal for the Democracy Shield is far too limited. In the remaining months of its work, the democratic members of the Committee should focus on setting the basis for a radically renewed engagement of democratic forces in Europe both in the Parliament and civil society. The democratic urgency is to find new formats and spaces for these forces to collaborate. The renewal of the petitions committee, the reform of the European Citizens Initiative, the creation of a permanent people’s assembly chosen by random selection, the role of structured dialogue between institutions and civil society and trade unions, the dialogue of European Parliamentarians with local institutions and people where they live and work, the reform of political party structures and internal decision making all need to be addressed.
Citizens Take Over Europe continues to mobilise and advocate for citizen participation to be at the heart of democracy in Europe, the surest way to ensure decisions are taken for the common good. Only if the population believes that democracy in Europe is more than a slogan will it be resilient. The best way to defend democracy is deeper democracy.