Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield

An EU democracy shield

The special committee on the European democracy shield has been established to create a more resilient EU, capable of defending its democratic processes from a wide range of hybrid threats. By focusing on threats - disinformation, cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation and interference, attacks on critical infrastructure, among others - and the EU’s response to them, the committee aims to safeguard democracy within and outside the EU in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.

Under the leadership of S&D MEP and rapporteur, Christel Schaldemose, in 2022 the EU adopted the most ambitious regulation on online platforms to protect consumers and users, the Digital Services Act (DSA). Its main goal is to prevent illegal and harmful activities online and the spread of disinformation. To this aim, very large online platforms like X, Facebook or TikTok, have an obligation to identify and analyse systemic risks linked to the use of their services and to take corresponding mitigation measures. The S&D Group will make sure that the DSA remains the main tool to assess social media platforms’ negative effects on democracy.

The adoption of the new regulation on transparency and targeting of political advertising, coming into force in 2025, will empower citizens to make informed decisions in a safer environment during elections. The Socialists and Democrats successfully strengthened the regulation on online political advertisement and also ensured that purely private communication will remain outside of the scope of the regulation.

During the previous mandate, the S&D Group successfully advocated for setting up a special Parliamentary committee on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU, including disinformation (INGE). It was eventually established in 2020, and chaired by S&D MEP Raphaël Glucksmann until March 2022. Under his leadership, the committee made several recommendations including calls for stronger rules for social media platforms, and tighter rules on financing of political parties, including a ban on foreign donations for political activities in the EU.

The S&D Group’s priorities for the special committee on the European democracy shield focus on strengthening the EU’s resilience against hybrid threats, disinformation, cyberattacks, foreign interference in democratic processes and elections, attacks on critical infrastructure, and the growing risks posed by foreign-backed disinformation campaigns.

The S&Ds will advocate for robust measures to counter the role of large online platforms in enabling the spread of harmful narratives, ensuring greater accountability and transparency in digital spaces. S&Ds will work to safeguard critical infrastructure from physical and cyberattacks, and foreign influence. They will promote effective deterrence, increased threat awareness and attribution capabilities, ensuring a high level of cybersecurity across the EU.

Strengthening media literacy, promoting civic engagement and the rule of law, and supporting independent journalism are central to the S&Ds’ approach to building democratic resilience against external interference.

Moreover, the S&Ds will emphasise the need for international solidarity and cooperation, especially with EU neighbours like Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans who are often the targets of Russian and other foreign disinformation campaigns. By prioritising these areas, the S&Ds seek to ensure that the EU remains united, democratic, and resilient in the face of evolving hybrid challenges and external threats to its core values.