At today’s meeting of the General Affairs Council, EU Ministers were invited by the European Commission and the Council Presidency to mark the official launch of the European Centre for Democratic Resilience. A flagship initiative of the European Democracy Shield, the Centre aims to strengthen democratic resilience by coordinating action across society, raising awareness of threats to democracy, and enhancing the capacity to respond effectively.
President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “In a world where information is increasingly weaponised to undermine our democracies, we are taking action. The European Centre for Democratic Resilience will boost our collective capacity to counter foreign information manipulation and disinformation, safeguard public debate, and empower citizens to participate fully in democratic life.”
Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, will work with Member States to share expertise, coordinate responses to common threats, and deliver tangible results. The Centre is designed to connect existing networks and initiatives, avoiding duplication and strengthening overall EU readiness.
Priority areas for the first year include:
- Developing tools to support resilient elections and address foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).
- Establishing an EU Blueprint to enhance preparedness and capacities against FIMI and disinformation.
- Launching a Stakeholder Platform for civil society, media, researchers, and fact-checkers to exchange knowledge and support Member States.
- Capacity-building initiatives and mutual learning to raise preparedness across the EU.
- Defining cooperation modalities with EU candidate and potential candidate countries.
- Citizen engagement initiatives, including two panels this year on preparedness and democratic resilience.
The European Commission, together with the European External Action Service, will support the Centre through existing tools, expertise, and EU networks.
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Background
The Centre was announced as part of the European Democracy Shield in the Joint Communication of 12 November 2025, reflecting the political guidelines and the 2025 State of the Union address by President von der Leyen. Democracies across the EU face growing pressures, including disinformation, political confrontation, and digital vulnerabilities. Authoritarian regimes exploit these challenges, threatening elections, media freedom, civil society, and public trust.
The Centre will act as a voluntary strategic hub for cooperation among Member States, respecting national competences while promoting democratic values. It is supported administratively by a Commission Secretariat and linked to the Rapid Alert System managed by the EEAS.
A high-level technical meeting in Brussels on 29 January confirmed the Centre’s framework, with participation from all Member States, the Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council Presidency, emphasizing the need for coordinated and collaborative action.
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According to the Special Eurobarometer on “Protecting and promoting democracy,” citizens identify the main challenges as distrust in democratic institutions (49%), foreign information manipulation and disinformation (42%), and lack of transparency around political content promoted online, including via AI (32%).
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