Michael McGrath: EU is ready to fight back against threats to our democracy

The new European Centre for Democratic Resilience is tackling attempts by authoritarian regimes to disrupt our freedom

Our democratic watchdogs — independent media, a vibrant civil society, and free and fair elections — must be resilient in the face of a flood of disinformation and rage bait designed to disrupt trust in our democracy. Picture: iStock

In 1999, I contested my first election. I was 22 years old, and I ran in the local town council election in Passage West and Monkstown, in Co Cork, Ireland.

When I was knocking on doors asking people in my local community for their support, I learned what democracy truly is. It lives in real engagement, in doorsteps, conversations, arguments, and compromises.

Democracy comes alive in community centres, churches, around kitchen tables, and during school runs.

At the heart of democracy is free, open debate.

This is not defined by an agreement of the outcome, it is defined by agreement of the rules.

Just like sport, democracy needs rules 

Democratic processes and our democratic watchdogs — free and independent media, a vibrant civil society, and free and fair elections — are the rules of the game in the EU. They ensure our democratic values are protected and strengthened, and create the framework for democratic processes to take place legitimately.

A football match requires more than just talented players. It requires clear rules and a referee to enforce them.

The referee does not determine who wins; they ensure that the game is fair, that fouls are addressed, and that every team competes on equal terms. Without that structure, unfair advantages and rule-breaking would dictate results, disputes would multiply, and the match would quickly descend into chaos.

Democracy functions in the same way. 

Investing in democratic processes means safeguarding the level playing field. It means ensuring that citizens have access to free media, that civil society can operate without intimidation, and that elections are conducted transparently and credibly. 

When people trust the fairness of the process, they trust the outcome — even when their side does not prevail. Just as rules give meaning to a football match, democratic processes give legitimacy to our proud European way of life.

A fake video purporting to show Catherine Connolly announcing her withdrawal from last year's presidential election went viral on polling day. While President Connolly duly won, there is evidence that such disinformation and rage bait is distorting many people's view of the world. File picture

Yet, across Europe and beyond, authoritarian regimes are seeking to bypass the will of citizens by deploying hybrid tactics — attacking infrastructure, using bots to artificially amplify distorted narratives, exploiting criminal networks, and seeking to interfere in elections.

These attempts aim to erode trust, deepen divisions, and destabilise societies. Digital transformation has amplified these challenges. The online sphere allows disinformation to spread faster and algorithms to fuel outrage. 

Independent media faces financial pressure, and AI tools can harmfully distort our perception of reality.

These pressures threaten the very essence of our democracies — the everyday freedoms, rights, and protections that allow us to live openly and safely. EU democracy relies on the ability to speak our minds without fear, access independent news, participate in fair elections, associate freely in civil society, and make personal choices without undue interference.

EU's new European Democracy Shield

We must act with urgency to safeguard our fundamental rights for generations to come — and we have a roadmap to do so.

The European Democracy Shield presented by the European Commission last November will help to ensure that a referee remains part of the match. 

It marks a decisive shift from ad hoc responses to a structured framework to protect and strengthen democracy across the EU. Safeguarding democracy cannot rely on law or policy alone, but requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort. The European Democracy Shield centres around three priorities:

• Protecting the integrity of the information space;
• Reinforcing democratic institutions and elections — including independent media and a vibrant civil society;
• Strengthening societal resilience and citizens’ engagement.

This is work to be done individually by member states — at national, regional, and local levels — and collectively at European level.

As European Commissioner for democracy, my task is to confront pressures on democratic systems directly. 

European Centre for Democratic Resilience

This is why, this week, I will kick off the work of the European Centre for Democratic Resilience together with ministers from all 27 EU member states — a flagship initiative under the European Democracy Shield. The centre will serve as a hub for structured co-operation with and between member states, EU institutions, and several countries wishing to become fully fledged members of the EU.

It will pool expertise, enhance information-sharing, and support action to tackle threats that know no borders. By working together, we can respond more effectively to challenges against our precious democratic systems.

The European Parliament building in Strasbourg with a banner saying ‘70 years of European democracy in action’. The new European Centre for Democratic Resilience is a flagship initiative of the European Democracy Shield. Picture: iStock

Co-ordination is at the heart of the centre. It will bring together national expertise and EU capacities to anticipate and detect threats, and provide response options to them.

Priorities are set jointly, projects are driven by member state needs, and cooperation translates into tangible results.

At its core, democracy is about citizens trusting the systems that make democratic participation possible.

The European Centre for Democratic Resilience will ensure that Europe can face challenges to its democracy head-on and keep the democratic match fair and worth playing.

Democracy is not just about choosing our leaders; it is about defending our entire way of life — our shared dignity, justice, and equality.

These values cannot be handed down from governments; they must be lived, renewed, and strengthened by all of us. Young or old, city or village, we must rise, reconnect, and stand together to defend the democratic values that bind us.

• Michael McGrath is the European commissioner for democracy, justice, the rule of law, and consumer protection