The Commission is preparing the European Democracy Shield, as announced in the Commission’s Political Guidelines for 2024-2029. It wanted to consult the stakeholders on the key issues that the Shield should address, structured around four themes:

• Countering disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI);
• Ensuring the fairness and integrity of elections and the strengthening of democratic frameworks and checks and balances, including media and civil society organisations;
• Strengthening societal resilience and preparedness;
• Fostering citizens’ participation and engagement.

ELI’s Charter, developed under the leadership of Professor Dr Elise Muir and Professor Dr Takis Tridimas, addresses many of these themes and was submitted to help shape the Commission’s approach. It is available here.