The EU ministers responsible for European affairs, who will meet on Monday 26 January for a ‘General Affairs’ Council, will hold an exchange of views over lunch on the European Democracy Shield, adopted by the European Commission on 12 November (see EUROPE 13750/4).
The discussion will help guide the EU Council’s future work on implementing European measures to protect democracies within the EU.
According to a working paper consulted by Agence Europe, the ministers will be asked to give their opinion on three questions.
The first concerns the political and operational priorities that the Presidency should defend in the EU Council to ensure coherent implementation of the European Democracy Shield. The second calls for the actions that have been announced to be examined so that they can complement national efforts and existing instruments at EU level, while also mobilising all government departments and civil society.
The final issue concerns the announced creation of a European Centre of Democratic Resilience.
The ministers will examine the conditions for implementing the centre, particularly with regard to coordination, the circulation of information and operational cooperation, without neglecting the competences of the Member States.
This debate will take place at a time when Europe’s democracies are increasingly faced with various multi-faceted threats, such as disinformation, foreign interference and attacks on media freedom.
Read the working paper: https://aeur.eu/f/kaw (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)