by Erkin Oncan, Strategic Culture:
Last week, the European Commission announced a new initiative titled the European Democracy Shield (EDS).
According to the official statement, the project aims to strengthen “democratic resilience,” establish early-warning systems against disinformation and foreign interference, support the media and civil society, ensure election security, and create comprehensive crisis protocols.
Its scope, however, is not limited to European Union (EU) member states—candidate countries are also included. In other words, Europe is “imposing” the concepts listed above on candidate states as well…
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Along with the Democracy Shield, the EU also unveiled its Civil Society Strategy. According to the official documents, this strategy envisions “free people, free and fair elections, a free and independent media, a vibrant civil society, and strong democratic institutions.”
How will the Democracy Shield work?
The European Democracy Shield has three main action plans:
- the protection of “the integrity of the information space,”
- the strengthening of “institutions, free and fair elections, and a free and independent media,”
- and the enhancement of “societal resilience and citizen participation.”
At the heart of the project lies the phrase “defending democracy,” which is critical. This language is used to protect the EU’s geopolitical interests, to portray “rival actors”—primarily Russia—as adversaries, and to legitimize the EU’s foreign-policy tools.
How so? Because the project documents make clear that the system focuses directly on “foreign disinformation and interference.” Its implementation entails activating crisis protocols, early-warning centers, and international coordination mechanisms.
Any alleged “interference” in EU policies can thus easily be used to criminalize left/socialist movements or anti-EU circles.
In essence, although the official documents emphasize concepts such as “democracy,” “civic participation,” and “free citizens,” the EU is building a new security narrative through the enemies it points to—reshaping domestic politics through a security-based logic.
Media and civil society
Another notable aspect of the project is its promise of “increased funding for independent media, local journalism, and civil society actors.” Such funding mechanisms are, everywhere in the world, designed above all to “please the funder,” because the funding is determined from the outset through a model of selective support.
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