In response to growing threats to media freedom and the financial viability of media outlets, Parliament adopted a common framework for media services, known as the European Media Freedom Act. It is a true milestone, as the act protects journalists and media workers, encourages transparency in media ownership and promotes international cooperation to ensure a diverse and independent media landscape.

The EU’s Media Freedom Act

In 1989, Jozef Mad’ar and his TV crew from what was then Yugoslavia were sent to film civil protests for freedom and democracy in the former Czechoslovakia. Let us listen to his recollections as he takes us on a journey through the streets of Bratislava.

The keys to freedom - memories of a cameraman from the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia

The Spring 2023 Eurobarometer showed citizens strongly support democracy and are very aware of next year’s European elections. The vote to choose our Members of the European Parliament will take place from 6 to 9 June 2024 in all EU countries.

Spring 2023 Eurobarometer

Проучването на Евробарометър от пролетта на 2023 година показа, че гражданите стабилно подкрепят демокрацията и са добре запознати с факта, че догодина са изборите за Европейски парламент. Гласуването за членове на Парламента ще се проведе от 6 до 9 юни 2024 година във всички държави от Европейския съюз.

Проучване на Евробарометър от пролетта на 2023 година

Eurobarometeret fra foråret 2023 viste, at borgerne i høj grad støtter demokratiet og er meget opmærksomme på næste års valg til Europa-Parlamentet. Afstemningen til valget af vores medlemmer af Europa-Parlamentet finder sted fra den 6. til den 9. juni 2024 i alle EU-landene.

Eurobarometer fra foråret 2023

Podle průzkumu Eurobarometr z jara 2023 občané silně podporují demokracii a jsou si jasně vědomi voleb do Evropského parlamentu v příštím roce. Hlasování o tom, kdo zasedne mezi poslance Evropského parlamentu, se bude konat ve dnech 6. až 9. června 2024 ve všech zemích EU.

Jarní Eurobarometr 2023

The European Parliament is marking 70 years of democracy in action - from its first assembly in 1952 to being stronger than ever during challenging times today.

70th Anniversary of the European Parliament: 70 years of European democracy

I live at the crossroads of East and West My childhood and teenage years were spent under communism, and my youth and adult years under democracy. What will the future bring us? On our My House of European History platform, we invite people from all over Europe to share their personal stories. Magdalena’s story is one of great changes in Europe, the peaceful end of communism and the transition from captivity to freedom. It is a call for freedom and democracy; a rallying cry for strong women in European society. [This podcast contains an excerpt from the speech of Wojciech Jaruzelski of 13 December 1981. © Copyright "Telewizja Polska S.A. – TVP. All rights reserved."]

EN ‘Living at the crossroads of East and West’ – a story of the desire for freedom under communist oppression

Everyone living in a democracy should have the opportunity to take part in political life. If you want to, you should be able to vote, join a political party or run for elected office. Yet it is often difficult for people with disabilities to exercise their political rights. Here are three things the EU does for them.

This is what Europe does for voters with disabilities

Are you worried that you, your friends or family might be fooled by junk news and viral conspiracy theories? You are one of a growing number of people who see fake news as a challenge to democracy. Here is what the EU recommends

This is what Europe does for amateur fact-checkers

Do you believe that democracy is key to global security and universal respect for human rights? Do you want to get involved in democratisation around the world? Here is how it works

This is what Europe does for election observers

Do you avoid the news, perhaps because you feel you cannot rely on the news to be true? A March 2018 Eurobarometer poll suggested there is great concern among internet users in Europe about fake news: 85 % of respondents see fake news as a problem in their country and 83 % perceive it as a problem for democracy.

This is what Europe does people who worry about fake news

As the hearts and brains of a free and pluralist media, journalists are vital to democracy in Europe. Although freedom of expression and freedom of information are guaranteed by the EU Charter for Fundamental Rights, journalists – even in the EU – are facing increasing pressure.

EU in my life - Journalist

Journalists are vital to the functioning of democracy in Europe. By offering a wide range of information and different points of view, journalists hold power to account and ensure that citizens are free to form their own opinions on the important issues of the day.

This is what the EU does for journalists

During the plenary sessions MEPs hold debates on foreign affairs and security policy to discuss European Union (EU) action beyond its borders.

The EU Treaties differentiate between common foreign and security policy (CFSP), common security and defence policy (CSDP), external action, and the external dimension of internal policies.

To address new challenges such as climate change, rising insecurity or new migration patterns, the EU has put forward concrete solutions to shape synergy between the actors, in order to use shared expertise more effectively, and to find new sources of funding. The new foreign policy framework (EU global strategy) is intended to map the tools and resources best designed to help society as a whole, in the EU and partner countries, to withstand natural and manmade shocks more effectively. In the years to come, global instability is expected to rise; the challenge for the EU will be to ensure security while upholding the core values of the Treaties – human rights, democracy and the fight against poverty – as its primary objectives on the global stage.

Debates on foreign affairs and security policy

The Constitutional Affairs Committee proposes a reform of the European Electoral Act defining common minimum electoral standards and a Union-wide constituency.

With 19 votes to 9 and without any abstentions, the EP Committee on Constitutional Affairs backed on 29 March a legislative initiative to replace the current European Electoral Act that defines how Members are elected to the European Parliament.

European political parties were established before the first direct European elections and have since gradually developed their infrastructure and influence. They represent transnational political federations of national political parties from several Member States sharing a political affiliation.

Since 2004, European parties have been entitled to funding from the EU general budget&nbsp;to finance their activities, albeit under strict conditions.

In September 2020, the Commission&nbsp;announced the revision of the Regulation on the statute and funding of the European political parties and European political foundations as one of the key initiatives in 2021.&nbsp;

According to&nbsp;its Communication&nbsp;on the European democracy action plan, Commission will propose a review of the legislation on the funding of European political parties with a&nbsp;view to addressing the financing of European political parties from outside the EU, revising the audit requirements, strengthening the links between European financing and national&nbsp;campaigns, and facilitating transparency and auditing. The goal is to have the new rules in&nbsp;place in sufficient time ahead of the May 2024 European Parliament elections.

In November Parliament proposed several ways to strengthen European democracy in a report assessing the existing rules on the statute and funding of European political parties.&nbsp;MEPs suggest improved donation monitoring, withholding funds when member parties do not comply with EU values, and reducing unnecessary administrative obstacles.

Funding of European political parties

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named in honour of the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, is awarded each year by the European Parliament.&nbsp; The Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny was&nbsp;the laureate of the 2021 Sakharov Prize. It was announced during the October II plenary and the award ceremony was held&nbsp;on 15 December in Strasbourg.

Alexei Navalny was&nbsp;a Russian opposition politician, anti-corruption activist and major political opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Alexei Navalny’s daughter, Daria Navalnaya, received European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize on behalf of her imprisoned father.

“In awarding the Sakharov Prize to Alexei Navalny, we recognise his immense personal bravery and reiterate the European Parliament’s unwavering support for his immediate release”,&nbsp; president of the EP David Sassoli&nbsp;said.

Afghan women&nbsp;and Bolivia’s former interim president Jeanine Áñez were also shortlisted in 2021.&nbsp;

The&nbsp; Sakharov prize was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. Each nominee must have the support of at least 40 MEPs, and each individual Member may support only one nominee. Signed nominations accompanied by supporting evidence are then assessed in a joint meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and the Committee on Development (DEVE).

&nbsp; A shortlist of three candidates is drawn up through a vote by AFET and DEVE committees, and then submitted to the Conference of Presidents for a final vote. The winner is always announced in October, and the award ceremony takes place in December at plenary sitting in Strasbourg. In 2020, the prize went to the&nbsp;Belarussian opposition&nbsp;for defending democracy in the country.

Sakharov Prize 2021

During the plenary sessions MEPs hold debates on foreign affairs and security policy to discuss European Union (EU) action beyond its borders. The EU Treaties differentiate between common foreign and security policy (CFSP), common security and defence policy (CSDP), external action, and the external dimension of internal policies. To address new challenges such as climate change, rising insecurity or new migration patterns, the EU has put forward concrete solutions to shape synergy between the actors, in order to use shared expertise more effectively, and to find new sources of funding. The new foreign policy framework (EU global strategy) is intended to map the tools and resources best designed to help society as awhole, in the EU and partner countries, to withstand natural and manmade shocks more effectively. In the years to come, global instability is expected to rise; the challenge for the EU will be to ensure security while upholding the core values of the Treaties – human rights, democracy and the fight against poverty – as its primary objectives on the global stage.

Ahead of the 17-18 February European Union-African Union summit in Brussels, plenary discussed with Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, about how to work together with African partners for a more strategic and results-oriented partnership. The discussion focused on the common challenges facing both continents, including the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, boosting vaccination and stimulating investments.

EU - Africa

The European Union and Lebanon enjoy close political relations in the framework of an Association Agreement between the two, which has been in force since April 2006.

This agreement promotes human rights, political dialogue, free movement of goods, and economic, social and cultural cooperation. The EU is committed to supporting democracy, good governance, social inclusion, education and sustainable development in Lebanon.

EU - Lebanon

Since the Law and Justice party (PiS) won both the presidential and parliamentary elections in Poland in autumn 2015, the new government has undertaken a series of reforms that critics say restrict democracy.

Freedom and pluralism: President Schulz of Parliament, and Commission vice-president Timmermans have voiced concern for the freedom and pluralism of Poland’s public-service television and radio and for the status of the Constitutional Court. On 13 January the Commission decided to start the first stage of the "Framework for addressing systemic threats to the Rule of Law" in Poland.

Women’s rights in Poland: the current sexual and reproductive health law in Poland is among the most restrictive in the EU but it does reflect a political consensus reached by all the parties years ago. This consensus has recently been put at risk by the pro-life movements calling for a total ban on abortion. Their “Pro- Right to Life” proposal (“citizen initiative”) and the restrictive act on IVF have been passed on for further work in the Polish parliament while a “Save the Women” proposal (a rival bid to liberalise access to legal abortion and introduce a large package of sexual and reproductive health services”) has been rejected despite earlier assurances that citizens’ initiatives will not be rejected without consideration in committees.

Rule of law in Poland - 8th parliamentary term

The EU's China policy is defined by the 'Elements for a new EU Strategy on China' which, together with the 'Council Conclusions EU Strategy on China', form the EU Strategy on China.

The Strategy reflects the fundamental premises of the EU's engagement: the promotion of democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and respect for the UN Charter's principles and international law, with the search for reciprocal benefits in political and economic relations.

EU - China - 8th Parliamentary term

Under Article 2 TEU, the EU is founded on the shared values of democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights.

Article 7 TEU establishes two mechanisms (preventive and sanctioning mechanisms) to enforce European Union values in cases of systemic violations and to sanction Member States departing from them. The sanctions mechanism empowers the Council to suspend certain membership rights of a Member State, including voting rights in the Council in cases of a 'serious and persistent breach' of EU values (Article 7(2) TFEU)’. However, these mechanisms require a high decision-making threshold in the Council and in the European Parliament (when Parliament is called to participate) and rely heavily on Member States’ willingness to take action.

Rule of law - 8th parliamentary term

Candidate countries include Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are considered potential candidates.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans - 8th parliamentary term

Every day journalists risk their lives to help keep us informed.

Freedom of Press is considered to be an essential element of democracy by the European Parliament, which strongly supports it within the EU and beyond. Article 11 of the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights clearly states that “freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected”.

Press freedom in the EU - 8th Parliamentary term

Nelson Mandela led the struggle to replace the apartheid regime of South Africa by a multi-racial democracy. Sentenced to life in prison, he spent 27 years in jail before becoming the country's first black President. He played a leading role in the drive for peace.He is laureate of the 1988 Sakharov Prize and of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize®.This video illustrates the relations between Nelson Mandela and the European institutions.

Nelson Mandela

The EU and Jordan have a strong partnership across many sectors and have been linked through an Association Agreement since 2002. Furthermore, Jordan was the first Mediterranean partner country to conclude technical negotiations leading to an "Advanced Status" with the EU in 2010.

The European Union (EU) stands by the Jordanian people in their ongoing efforts to achieve democracy, respect for human rights, social justice, security and socio-economic development.

EU - Jordan

On the 16th October 2017, the Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb explosion. Ms Caruana Galizia gave to the Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion (PANA) evidence about her work on the Panama Papers at a meeting in February 2017 in Malta.

Every day journalists risk their lives to help keep us informed. Freedom of Press is considered to be an essential element of democracy by the European Parliament, which strongly supports it within the EU and beyond. Article 11 of the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights clearly states that “freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected”.

Press freedom in Malta (2019-2020)

Recent developments in Hungary have led to a serious deterioration in the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights which is testing the EU’s ability to defend its founding values.

Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union provides a mechanism to enforce EU values. Under Article 7(1), the Council may determine that there is a clear risk of a serious breach of EU values by a Member State and is intended to prevent an actual breach by addressing specific recommendations to the Member State in question. This can be triggered by one third of Member States, by Parliament or by the Commission. The Council has to adopt a decision by a four-fifths majority after having received Parliament's consent which also requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast and an absolute majority of MEPs.

Rule of law in Hungary - 8th parliamentary term

EP President Metsola made&nbsp;a statement at the opening of the February session, followed by a full debate on the emergency humanitarian aid the EU can provide to Türkiye and Syria after the catastrophic earthquake, which cost the lives of more than 30 000&nbsp;people and destroyed tens of thousands of buildings, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.

Turkey has been candidate for EU membership since 1999. Accession negotiations started in 2005. In recent years the EU is often criticizing the backsliding of the country in certain areas. As a major emerging economy and a member of NATO and G20, Türkiye&nbsp;is recognised as an active regional foreign policy player, with a strategic location, including for the EU's energy security. Turkey is a key strategic partner of the EU on issues such as migration, security, counter-terrorism, and the economy, but according to the EU has been backsliding in the areas of democracy, rule of law and fundamental right.

EU - Türkiye

On 10 March 2022, the <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220304IPR24801/three-new-committees-on-pegasus-spyware-foreign-interference-and-covid-19" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">European Parliament established</a> a new special committee on the COVID-19 pandemic, composed of 38 members. The committee is set up for a 12-month term, running from the date of its constitutive meeting, and may be extended.&nbsp;

The majority of the special committee’s work will focus on four pandemic-related areas: health; a coordinated response respecting democracy and fundamental rights; the societal and economic impact; and the EU and the world.

The COVI Chair Kathleen Van Brempt said: “Although this pandemic has not yet ended, Europe already finds itself in the next crisis. In the past fifteen years, the EU has weathered a financial crisis, a refugee crisis, a pandemic, and now a war. Through these crises, we saw the EU often lacked the necessary tools to act quickly. We saw member states only agreeing a European response when it was already too late, be it on the joint procurement of medical equipment, a common European migration policy, or the deepening of the Energy Union. This has brought us the European Union we know today: one that can react to crises, but lacks the political mandate to prepare for them.&nbsp;We need to fundamentally change this dynamic. This is exactly what Parliament’s COVI committee will try to achieve: building a Europe that is better prepared for future crises by drawing lessons from the pandemic. Because COVID-19 was also a crisis of rising inequality, of the economy, our democracy &amp; fundamental rights, and of international governance, the COVI committee will consider the impact of the pandemic on all aspects of society."

COVI - Special Committee on the EU's response to the COVID-19 pandemic

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 144)

Opening of the sitting

Announcement by the President: see Minutes

Presentation of the programme of activities of the Swedish Presidency (debate)

Report: Lídia Pereira (A9-0293/2022) - Rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes

Resumption of the sitting

Voting time

Consumer protection in online video games: a European Single Market approach (debate)

Surge of respiratory infections and the shortage of medication in Europe (debate)

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

Question Time (Commission) - Food price inflation in Europe

New developments in allegations of corruption and foreign interference, including those related to Morocco, and the need to increase transparency, integrity and accountability in the European institutions (debate)

Implementation of the common foreign and security policy - annual report 2022 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy - annual report 2022 (debate)

Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter - annual report 2022 (debate)

The EU’s response to the appalling attack against civilians in Dnipro : strengthening sanctions against the Putin regime and military support to Ukraine (debate)

The establishment of a tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

EU response to the protests and executions in Iran (debate)

“The Road to 2023” - Towards a stronger EU-Latin America partnership (debate)

Explanations of vote

Agenda of the next sitting

Approval of the minutes of the sitting

Plenary session

Opening of the sitting


Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading (Rule 71) (action taken)

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 15 December 2022

EU response to the US Inflation Reduction Act (debate)

Award of the Sakharov Prize (formal sitting)

Tackle the cost of living crisis: increase pay, tax profits, stop speculation (topical debate)

Defending the European Union against the abuse of national vetoes

Defending democracy from foreign interference (debate)

The Commission’s reports on the situation of journalists and the implications of the rule of law (debate)

Upscaling the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework

Deliberations of the Committee on Petitions in 2021 (debate)

Chinese government crackdown on the peaceful protests across the People's Republic of China

Military Junta crackdown on peaceful demonstrations in Chad

The case of human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja in Bahrain

Closure of the sitting

10 years of supporting parliamentary democracy beyond the EU - Conclusions and way forward

10 years of supporting parliamentary democracy beyond the EU - Partnerships for democracy support

10 years of supporting parliamentary democracy beyond the EU - Creating parliamentary democratic culture through dialogue and consensus building

10 years of supporting parliamentary democracy beyond the EU - Comprehensive approach to the institutional reform and capacity development

10 years of supporting parliamentary democracy beyond the EU - What have we achieved and what have we learned?

Youth Democracy Event - Level Up! - Closing

Youth Democracy Event - Level Up! - Youth Talks

Youth Democracy Event - Level Up! - Opening

LIBE Working Group on Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group (DRFMG)

LIBE

Press conference by Dubravka ŠUICA, EC Vice-President for Democracy and Demography and Jutta URPILAINEN, Commissioner for International Partnerships on the Youth Action Plan in EU external action for

Opening event of the ICONIC exhibition - How does an iconic photo help defend democracy?

Statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President at Copenhagen Democracy Summit

The social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine - reinforcing the EU’s capacity to act (debate)

Discharge 2020 (53 reports) (debate)

Use of the Pegasus Software by EU Member States against individuals including MEPs and the violation of fundamental rights (topical debate)

The case of Osman Kavala in Turkey

Reports of continued organ harvesting in China

The continuous crackdown of political opposition in Cambodia

Threats to stability, security and democracy in Western and Sahelian Africa (debate)

Composition of political groups: see Minutes

Competition policy – annual report 2021 (debate)

Agenda for next sitting: see Minutes

Press conference by Dragos Tudorache , Lead Member Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group, on programme Jean Monnet Dialogue with the Moldovan Parliament

Conference on the Future of Europe - workgroup on European democracy

EP Plenary session - Parliamentarism, European citizenship and democracy

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

EP Plenary session - Chile: 50 years since the murder of Allende and the Coup in Chile : democracy and sovereignty

Henna VIRKKUNEN official portrait - 9th Parliamentary term

EP's Democracy Support and Elections Coordination Group - Moldova, Study visit on EU Accession Process

Event 70 years of Parliamentary democracy at the Royal Palace

EP Plenary session - Threat to democracy and the rule of law in Poland, in particular the creation of an investigative committee

Sixth EUVP Alumni Webinar ' Building Partnerships in Defending Parliamentary Democracy '

AFET DROI joint meeting - Exchange of views on ‘How to support Human Rights, Freedom and Democracy in Iran

Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group event  ' Care about what you wear, consume or buy '

EP Plenary session - Deterioration of democracy in Israel and consequences on the occupied territories

COVI Special Committee - Public hearing ' Impact of the Pandemic on EU Democracies '

In the European Union, democracy may seem obvious to us today. But this has not always been the case. Not so long ago, millions of Europeans lived through times when they could not vote or even speak up freely. When their very lives could be in danger simply for being different, for holding different beliefs or for wanting a different life. Democracy is a precious gift passed on to us from previous generations. They aspired towards it and fought for it. Now it is up to us to maintain it, to make it stronger and pass it on to the generations to come. The most effective way to do so is by voting - because the more people vote, the stronger democracy becomes. On June 6-9 2024: Use your vote or others will decide for you.

© ANDCO A/S, 2024. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Parliament under conditions. Use or reproduction is prohibited without prior explicit permission from the respective right holders.

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Trailer 6 OV 1:1 - German (Austria)

"In the European Union, democracy may seem obvious to us today. But this has not always been the case. Not so long ago, millions of Europeans lived through times when they could not vote or even speak up freely. When their very lives could be in danger simply for being different, for holding different beliefs or for wanting a different life. Democracy is a precious gift passed on to us from previous generations. They aspired towards it and fought for it. Now it is up to us to maintain it, to make it stronger and pass it on to the generations to come. The most effective way to do so is by voting - because the more people vote, the stronger democracy becomes. On June 6-9 2024: Use your vote or others will decide for you.

© ANDCO A/S, 2024. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Parliament under conditions. Use or reproduction is prohibited without prior explicit permission from the respective right holders."

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Documentary OV 9:16 Instagram - Luxembourgish

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Documentary OV 9:16 Instagram - German (Austria)

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Documentary OV 9:16 Instagram - Valencian

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Trailer 2 OV 16:9 - Turkish

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Documentary OV 9:16 Instagram - Galician

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Documentary OV 9:16 Instagram - Turkish

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Documentary OV 9:16 Instagram - Dutch (Belgium)

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Documentary OV 9:16 Instagram - Catalan

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Documentary OV 9:16 Instagram - Basque

Use your vote – European elections 2024 video – Trailer 4 Dubbed 16:9 - Catalan

In the European Union, democracy may seem obvious to us today. But this has not always been the case. Not so long ago, millions of Europeans lived through times when they could not vote or even speak up freely. When their very lives could be in danger simply for being different, for holding different beliefs or for wanting a different life. Democracy is a precious gift passed on to us from previous generations. They aspired towards it and fought for it. Now it is up to us to maintain it, to make it stronger and pass it on to the generations to come. The most effective way to do so is by voting - because the more people vote, the stronger democracy becomes. On June 6-9 2024: Use your vote or others will decide for you.

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