The future ‘Defence of Democracy’ legislative package (see EUROPE 13084/8) must take into account all the threats to democracy while ensuring that fundamental freedoms are not impeded, say 46 European associations in a recommendation published on 30 March.
While they welcome the fact that the discussions have moved beyond foreign interference to also include internal EU threats, they are urging caution. The new measures, in particular the directive establishing “common transparency and accountability standards for interest representation services directed or paid for from outside the EU”, must not be allowed to be used “to stifle media, journalists, civil society and political opposition”.
Civil Society
The associations are therefore asking the European Commission to ensure that the package promotes a “pluralistic and open” space for civil society. In particular, their argument is that organisations should be able to access “long-term, sustainable and operational funding” (see EUROPE 13078/27).
More generally, they want to encourage citizen participation in decision-making processes, to strengthen civic education on topics such as democracy and the media, and to implement the recommendations of the ‘Conference on the Future of Europe’ (see EUROPE 13108/16).
European elections
With the 2024 European Parliament elections fast approaching, they are urging the European Commission and Member States to work together to “ensure the security and integrity of elections in the EU”, including by encouraging monitoring of the electoral process.
They are also calling for a permanent secretariat and an expanded role for the European Cooperation Network on Elections to better identify new threats. A similar network, in their opinion, could be created for political finance watchdogs.
They are also proposing to complement the forthcoming legislation on targeting and transparency in political advertising (see EUROPE 13135/17) with a code of conduct for ethical digital campaigning. This could apply to European political parties as well as to platforms.
Disinformation
Finally, spreading false information should be “neither profitable nor attractive”, for European and third country actors alike, the associations insist. They therefore call for an “effective system of sanctions” as well as the application of the existing legal framework (General Data Protection Regulation – GDPR, Digital Services Act – DSA and Code of Conduct on Disinformation).
In parallel, they call for a favourable environment for independent media, building on the anti-SLAPP Directive (see EUROPE 13146/22) and the Media Freedom Act (see EUROPE 13151/26). The resilience of society as a whole to “hybrid threats” must also be strengthened.
They recall, however, that the battle against disinformation must not undermine the right to information or the freedoms of assembly and association. They therefore call for opposition to “any measures that violate these laws in other jurisdictions, such as foreign agent registration laws”.
Read the recommendations: https://aeur.eu/f/66v (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)