In the face of democratic backsliding, growing disinformation, and attacks on democratic institutions—both internal and external—the European Commission is set to launch a new initiative to protect Europe’s democratic framework: the European Democracy Shield, which will has been officially unveiled on 13 November 2025.
This initiative aims to fortify democratic resilience across the continent, with a focus on countering foreign interference, election manipulation, and the erosion of democratic values.
As the 2025 report by the Varieties of Democracy Institute (V-Dem) indicates, global democracy is facing significant setbacks, with over two-thirds of the world’s population living in nations where freedom of expression is under threat. Even in Europe, similar challenges persist, as underscored in the European Parliament’s 2023 Rule of Law Report, which highlights concerns in several EU member states regarding the rule of law, fundamental rights, and the overall health of democracy.
Key measures within the European Democracy Shield include:
- Strengthening the fight against foreign information manipulation and disinformation campaigns (FIMI)
- Enhancing coordination between EU institutions and Member States on tackling disinformation
- Protecting the integrity of elections
- Promoting transparency of European political parties
- Implementing the Media Freedom Act to support independent media and journalists, including protections against abusive legal actions like SLAPPs
The need for such measures is particularly urgent. According to the European Commission, 82% of Europeans believe that distorted or false information poses a threat to democracy, and 77% see it as a significant issue in their own countries.
In December 2024, the European Parliament established the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS) to assess existing EU legislation and propose new measures to address harmful foreign interference in democratic processes. Rapporteur Tomas Tobé (EPP, Sweden) presented a working document in April 2025, suggesting the creation of a European Centre of Excellence to combat disinformation, a proposal aimed at improving EU-wide coordination.
Local democracy is the first line of defense for European democracy
ALDA’s Contribution to the European Democracy Shield
As a European organisation with a network of over 300 local authorities and civil society organisations across more than 45 countries, ALDA has long been advocating for the importance of local democracy as a critical pillar of democratic resilience. ALDA has welcomed the European Democracy Shield initiative and emphasises that local communities and authorities must play an active role in both designing and implementing the Shield.
ALDA’s key recommendations include:
- Strengthening the role of local democracy in the European Democracy Shield, ensuring that local institutions and communities are directly involved in safeguarding democratic values.
- Recognising the expertise of civil society organisations (CSOs) from candidate countries and EU neighbours, ensuring their inclusion in knowledge-sharing and best practice exchanges.
- Protecting media freedom and civil society, acknowledging their essential role in countering disinformation and defending democratic integrity.
- Investing in digital literacy at the local level to help communities recognise and counter foreign disinformation and manipulation.
ALDA’s Role in Advancing the European Democracy Shield
With deep connections in Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans, ALDA is actively involved in promoting democratic resilience in these regions, which are particularly vulnerable to foreign interference and disinformation campaigns.
In addition, ALDA is a signatory of several important civil society declarations, such as:
- A New European Shield for Democracy: How to Make it Work?, developed with the European Partnership for Democracy and 66 other organisations. This statement calls for a European Democracy Shield with both internal and external dimensions, stressing the importance of strengthening democratic standards in neighbouring regions to foster a more stable environment for the EU.
- Digital Platforms and Foreign Interference: Safeguarding the EU’s Democratic Integrity, co-signed with the European Movement International and other partners. This declaration advocates for extending the European Democracy Shield protections to candidate countries.
The European Democracy Shield represents not just an EU initiative but a collective, cross-border effort to defend democracy at every level. From Vicenza, ALDA continues to contribute to this critical dialogue, ensuring that local communities play an integral role in the fight for a more resilient, democratic, and united Europe.
