Recognising the growing need to defend European democracy, in July 2024, the European Commission President in her speech to the European Parliament proposed a 'European democracy shield'.

The Commission's July 2024 political guidelines further built on the EU's expanding toolbox to counter foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). Responsibility for the European democracy shield lies primarily with the Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath.

On 7 January 2025, the Commission published the decision of the President of the European Commission to establish a Commissioners' project group on democracy, chaired by the Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection.

On 11 February 2025, the European Commission published its work programme. Under policy objective no. 3.5. - Protecting our democracy, upholding our values -  the Commission announced a non-legislative initiative, a Democracy Shield seeking to tackle 'the evolving nature of threats to our democracy and electoral processes'.

On 31 March 2025, the Commission opened a public consultation on the European Democracy Shield, which concluded on 26 May 2025.

On 1 April 2025, the Commission launched a call for proposals to support a European Network of Fact-Checkers, which concluded on 2 September 2025.

In her State of the Union address to the European Parliament on 10 September 2025, von der Leyen announced the plan to set up a new European Centre for Democratic Resilience, to bring together expertise and capacity across Member States and neighbouring countries.

On 12 November 2025, the Commission and the High Representative published a joint communication on the 'European Democratic Shield: Empowering Strong and Resilient Democracies'. Actions, to be rolled out by 2027, fall under four main categories:

1. a new European Centre for Democratic Resilience;
2. safeguarding the integrity of the information space;
3. strengthening our institutions, fair and free elections, and free and independent media; and
4. boosting societal resilience and citizens' engagement.

The EDS further builds on the EU's evolving work to counter FIMI, led by the European External Action Service (EEAS) since 2015, as well as the EU's regulatory framework to threats against democracy. A key dimension is the digital regulation, including the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act. The 2023 defence of democracy package, the regulation on transparency and targeting of political advertising (TTPA), as well as the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and the Audio-Visual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) - currently being revised - are other core pieces of legislation. 

Role of the European Parliament

On 18 December 2024, Parliament voted to set up a Special committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS). At its constitutive meeting on 3 February 2025, the EUDS elected the following bureau members:

• Chair: Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, France)
• 1st Vice-Chair: Csaba MOLNÁR (S&D, Hungary)
• 2nd Vice-Chair: Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, Latvia)
• 3rd Vice-Chair: Stefano CAVEDAGNA (ECR, IT)
• 4th Vice-Chair: Vasile DÎNCU (S&D, Romania).

Rapporteur is Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, Sweden).

On 29 April 2025, the rapporteur presented his working document. Among other recommendations, it proposed creating a new European centre to combat FIMI. 

In September 2025, the mandate of EUDS committee was extended by six months, until 3 August 2026.

On 21 January 2026, the EUDS draft initiative report was put forward. It called for a concrete reform agenda, focused on operational capacity, accountability, and preparedness, with integrity of elections at the core. It urged for the proposed Centre for Democratic Resilience to assume operational responsibility for relevant EU instruments, and for clarity about support for building operational capabilities. It also called for prioritising societal resilience via independent media, civil society, and media literacy.

The committee vote is scheduled for June 2026, with the plenary vote expected in July.

References:

• EP Legislative Observatory, Procedure file, Decision on setting up a special committee on the European Democracy Shield, and defining its responsibilities, numerical strength and term of office (2024/2999(RSO)).
• European Commission, mission letter to Commissioner designate for Democracy, Justice, and the Rule of Law, 17 September 2024.
• Statement at the European Parliament Plenary by President Ursula von der Leyen, candidate for a second mandate 2024-2029, 18 July 2024.
• Political guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029, 18 July 2024
• European Commission work programme 2025, 11 February 2025. 
• European Commission public consultation on the European Democracy Shield, 31 March 2025.
• European Parliament Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield working document, 29 Aril 2025.
• European Parliament Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield draft report, 18 December 2025 (2025/2069(INI)).
• European Commission call for proposals to support the growth of a European Network of Fact-Checkers, 27 May 2025.
• State of the Union speech by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, 10 September 2025.
• Announcement by the President of the European Parliament, 9 September 2025.
• European Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Joint communication on the 'European Democratic Shield: Empowering Strong and Resilient Democracies' (JOIN(2025) 791 final), 12 November 2025.

Further reading:

• European Parliament, EPRS, European democracy shield, Briefing, June 2025
• European Parliament, EPRS, Information integrity online and the European democracy shield, Briefing, December 2024
• European Parliament, DG IUST, Strengthening resilience - Towards the European Democracy Shield, study, October 2025
• European Parliament, EPRS, The European Democracy Shield: An overview, At a Glance, January 2026.

Author: Naja Bentzen, Members' Research Service, legislative-train@europarl.europa.eu