Getting involved in political life: standing for elected office, joining a political party, or following the news; is at the heart of what it means to live in a democracy. People with disabilities are active citizens, keen to participate given the right opportunities. However, they face legal, administrative, institutional and accessibility barriers to taking part. Several EU initiatives encourage people with disabilities to participate in politics. With the 2024 European elections on the horizon, the European Parliament is committed to helping them take part.

EPRS Policy Podcast - People with disabilities and the European elections

Europaparlamentet firar 70 år av demokratiskt arbete – Från sitt första möte 1952 till våra dagars utmaningar har det växt sig starkare än någonsin.

Europaparlamentets 70-årsjubileum: 70 år av europeisk demokrati

Är du orolig för att du själv eller någon du känner ska bli lurad av påhittade nyheter och virala konspirationsteorier? Då är du en av ett växande antal människor som ser falska nyheter som ett hot mot demokratin. Här är vad EU rekommenderar

Det här gör EU för dig som gillar att faktagranska

The constitutive meetings of the European Parliament's standing committees and subcommittees take place in Brussels on the week from 27th to 31st january 2025. During the meetings, each committee and subcommittee will elect its respective bureau, made up of a Chair and Vice-Chairs, for a two-and-a-half year mandate.

EUDS - Special committee on the European Democracy Shield

Parliament holds debates on human rights, democracy and rule of law topics.

Human rights are fundamental values of the entire international community. More than 70 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first comprehensive international human rights document to set common standards to which all UN members should aspire, human rights have become a cornerstone of the international system and have reached almost universal recognition. However, much remains to be done in practice so that every human being can enjoy their fundamental rights.

Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

Observing Election Day is one of the principal ways the European Parliament supports democracy.

Because MEPs are the EU's only directly elected representatives, their contribution is essential. With personal experience of campaigns, issues of financing and the work of representing citizens, MEPs bring political legitimacy to observation missions.

Over more than three decades, the European Parliament has observed several hundred elections. Every year, MEPs travel to as many as a dozen countries across the world.
Observing Election Day is one of the principal ways the European Parliament supports democracy.

Election Observation Missions

This package contains the events between 1st July 2019 and 31 December 2020. For latest events, see related links.

At each plenary session in the European Parliament, debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law may also give rise to motions for resolutions. These texts are generally tabled by a committee, apolitical group or at least 40 Members.

Human rights are fundamental values of the entire international community. More than 70 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first comprehensive international human rights document to set common standards to which all UN members should aspire, human rights have become a cornerstone of the international system and have reached almost universal recognition. However, much remains to be done in practice so that every human being can enjoy their fundamental rights.

Since he was elected EP President on 3 July 2019, David SASSOLI represents Parliament in its international relations, and, in this connection, undertakes official visits within and outside the EU. He also receives official representatives from governments.

The work of the European Union (EU) in the area of external relations includes the external trade relations, development policy, human rights and democracy, Union’s enlargement and neighbourhood and relations beyond the neighbourhood.

President Sassoli's official visits and bilateral meetings (2019-2020)

Dubravka Suica, born on 20 May 1957 in Dubrovnik, is a Croatian politician who has been a member of the European Parliament since 2013.

After the hearing by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) of the European Parliament, the committee prepares an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President-designate, Democracy and Demograp

New committee on democracy shield. The new special Committee on the European Democracy Shield holds its constitutive meeting to elect their chair and vice-chair and launch their activities. It will deal with the so-called “Democracy Shield” initiative, included in the Commission’s 2024-2029 political guidelines, and other initiatives designed to counter malicious interference in democratic processes (Monday).

EUDS: New committee on democracy shield- Constitutive meeting

MEPs discuss the need to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) to safeguard democracy from foreign interference and algorithmic manipulation. 
The debate with Council and Commission representatives will focus on the compliance of major social media companies with the DSA, which sets clear obligations for digital service providers to tackle the spread of illegal content, online disinformation, and other societal risks. 
MEPs are expected to express concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability of platforms’ recommender systems and their failure to tackle risks, like disinformation and foreign interference. This follows a plenary debate on 17 December 2024, which addressed the issue of online disinformation in European elections. During that discussion, many MEPs urged the Commission to actively enforce the DSA and impose sanctions on platforms that violate EU rules.  
MEPs are also likely to bring up the future of the transatlantic partnership on technology, particularly in the context of the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump on 20 January, Elon Musk’s involvement in the US government and Meta’s recent decision to end its fact-checking programme. 
Background 
While the DSA does not regulate personal views or opinions, it introduces measures to tackle illegal content - such as terrorist material and child sexual abuse - in full compliance with the principles of freedom of expression and information. The legislation ensures users have a right to challenge unlawful or arbitrary content moderation decisions by online platforms. At the same time, online platforms are required to be more transparent about their operations, including about their “recommender systems”.

Debate on the need to enforce DSA to protect democracy

Henna Virkkunen is a Finnish Member of the European Parliament since 2014. She is now Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President designate, Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

Michael McGrath was Irish Minister for Finance from 2022 to 2024, and he is now the European Commissioner-designate for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner-designate, Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law

MEPs are discussing global social media platform regulations on Tuesday, focusing on the enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and its role in protecting democracy and online freedom. The DSA, in effect since February 2024, applies to all platforms, and MEPs question the Commission on its enforcement measures, including ongoing investigations into potential violations by TikTok, Meta, X, and AliExpress. 

Since the DSA's adoption, countries like the UK, Canada, Australia, and the US are considering similar laws to hold platforms accountable for user safety. The EU's digital rulebook, a global standard for consumer protection and rights online, includes obligations for social media companies to combat illegal content, enhance algorithm transparency, and ban misleading practices such as targeted ads for children. 

MEPs are also explore how the DSA has influenced global regulatory trends and assess further measures to strengthen its enforcement.

Global measures towards social media platforms - Strengthening the role of DSA and protecting the democracy and freedom in the online sphere

SEDE - Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Commissioner for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

With war having returned to the European continent, measuring the level of threats to peace, security and democracy around the world – as the 'Normandy Index' does – is more important than ever. The annual Index was presented for the first time at the Normandy Peace Forum in June 2019, as a result of a partnership between the European Parliament and the Region of Normandy. The Index has been designed and prepared by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), in conjunction with and on the basis of data provided by the Institute for Economics and Peace. This paper sets out the findings of the 2023 exercise, which draws on data compiled in 2022, and explains how the Index can be used to compare peace – defined on the basis of a given country's performance against a range of predetermined threats – across countries and regions. It is complemented by 61 individual country case studies, derived from the Index. The paper forms part of the EPRS contribution to the 2023 Normandy World Peace Foru

Mapping threats to peace and democracy worldwide: Normandy Index 2023

Special committee on the European Democracy Shield Ordinary meeting

EUDS

Committee on Security and Defence followed with the Joint meeting Special committee on the European Democracy Shield

SEDE

The Role of Parliaments in Public Engagement and Outreach (Conference by the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group)

Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield – Joint Meeting with Members of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

LIBE

Special Committee Constitutive Meeting on the European Democracy Shield

Press point by Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

Confirmation hearing of Henna Maria VIRKKUNEN, Commissioner-designate, Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

Press point by Michael McGrath, Commissioner-Designate for Democracy, Justice, and the Rule of Law

Confirmation hearing of Michael MCGRATH, Commissioner-designate, Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law

Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly - Meeting of the Committee on Political Affairs, Human Rights and Democracy

Media seminar – Safeguarding Democracy: the role of the media / European Elections 2024

Press conference by Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, rapporteur on The Annual Report 2023 on Human Rights and Democracy

Read-out of the College meeting / press conference by Vice-Presidents JOUROVÁ and ŠUICA on the Defence of Democracy legislative package

Conversations with women Speakers in Africa on gender and democracy

ACP-EU JPA / Seminar 'Triangle on Democracy'

AFET - Presentation of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) Annual Report 2024

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

Special committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS) constitutive meeting

JURI - Exchange of views with Mr Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection

Information Session - Democracy Support and Election Observation

EP Plenary session - The need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms against foreign interference and biased algorithms

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents in the presence of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

EPRS Policy roundtable - Towards a European democracy shield in our digital world: The role of information integrity

LIBE the constitutive meeting of the LIBE Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group (DRFMG)

ITRE IMCO -  Confirmation hearing of VHenna Maria VIRKKUNEN, European Commissioner-designate for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy - Press Point

ITRE IMCO -  Confirmation hearing of Henna Maria VIRKKUNEN, European Commissioner-designate for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

LIBE IMCO JURI - Confirmation hearing of Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner-designate for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law - Press point

LIBE IMCO JURI - Confirmation hearing of Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner-designate for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law

MEPs discuss with Commission Vice-President Virkkunen on how to address the US decision to restrict the export of chips used for artificial intelligence models to certain EU member states during the plenary. Closing statement by Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

US AI chip export restrictions - a challenge to European AI development and economic resilience: Closing statement by Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

This news item shows atmosphere shots of the first constitutive meeting of the European Parliament's Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS). MEPs elected its chair Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), her vice-chairs and launched officially its political mandate, which will include as main goal the monitoring of the so-called “Democracy Shield” initiative, included in the Commission’s 2024-2029 political guidelines, and other initiatives designed to counter malicious interference in democratic processes.

Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS): atmosphere shots of the constitutive meeting and statement by Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), newly elected Chair of EUDS Special Committee

MEPs discuss the need to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) and tackle the spread of illegal content, online disinformation, and other societal risks to safeguard European democracy from foreign interference and algorithmic manipulation. Closing statement by Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy and by Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for European Affairs. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and distorted algorithms: Closing statements by Henna VIRKKUNEN and Adam SZLAPKA

MEPs discuss the need to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) and tackle the spread of illegal content, online disinformation, and other societal risks to safeguard European democracy from foreign interference and algorithmic manipulation.

Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and distorted algorithms: MEPs debate (part 3)

Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and distorted algorithms: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs discuss the need to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) and tackle the spread of illegal content, online disinformation, and other societal risks to safeguard European democracy from foreign interference and algorithmic manipulation. Opening statement by Adam SZLAPKA, Polish Minister for European Affairs and Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

The need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms: opening statements by Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for EU Affairs, and Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive VP of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty

EP President, Roberta METSOLA, President-in-Office of the Council, Adam SZLAPKAMEP, and Executive Vice-President of the Commission, Henna VIRKKUNEN open the debate with the MEPs on the Digital Services Act (DSA). They discuss the need to enforce the DSA and tackle the spread of illegal content, online disinformation, and other societal risks to safeguard European democracy from foreign interference and algorithmic manipulation.

The need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms: extracts from the debate

Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and distorted algorithms: MEPs debate (part 4)

Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and distorted algorithms: MEPs debate (part 1)

Need to enforce the Digital Services Act to protect democracy on social media platforms including against foreign interference and distorted algorithms: One round of political group speakers

The EP Conference of Presidents meets with Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.

Meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents in the presence of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: arrivals and roundtable

MEPs and the Commission discuss misinformation and disinformation circulating on social media platforms such as TikTok, and the dangers they pose to the holding of free and fair elections in Europe. Closing statement by Michael MCGRATH, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection.

Misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms, such as TikTok, and related risks to the integrity of elections in Europe: closing statement by Michael MCGRATH, EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, Consumer protection

Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy speaks to the press after she was heard by Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) which participated as joint committees.

Press point by Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), and Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) participate as joint committees. At the end of the confirmation hearing, Henna VIRKKUNEN makes a closing statement followed by the one from the Committee chair.

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: closing statement by Henna VIRKKUNEN and Committee chair

Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) participate as joint committees. During the confirmation hearing, Henna VIRKKUNEN answers questions by committee members.

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: questions / answers (part 5)

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: questions / answers (part 4)

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: questions / answers (part 3)

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: questions / answers (part 2)

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