Democracy Shield and EU Enlargement – Digital Perspectives

2025-12-09T09:30:00+00:00

2025-12-09T11:00:00+00:00

https://www.expert-europe.eu//medias/image/thumbnail_14954910066936cc0f75452.png

MEP EVENT Democracy Shield and the EnlargementDigital and Institutional Perspectives📅 Date:Tuesday, 9 December 2025🕐 Time:10:30 – 12:00📍 Location:Room ASP 5E1 – European Parliament, BrusselsHosted byVladimir PREBILIČ Slovenia  MEP Member of the European ParliamentGreens/EFA GroupVesna (SI) Sebastian EVERDING Germany  MEP Member of the European ParliamentThe Left GroupTierschutzpartei (DE) About the EventContemporary democracies face a set of complex and interconnected threats, with information integrity and the resilience of the public sphere emerging as central systemic concerns. Challenges such as disinformation, the erosion of information integrity in electoral processes, declining societal resilience, and diminishing citizen engagement are now at the forefront of the Democratic Shield initiative. Crucially, such a framework must fully encompass the digital sphere, where these threats intersect and amplify across platform and AI infrastructures.At the same time, the European digital ecosystem is closely intertwined with its neighbourhood. In contexts where regulation is insufficient and institutional capacities remain limited, harmful informational and technological dynamics often spill over into the EU's Digital Single Market. The Western Balkan countries, while progressing at different speeds in the EU integration process and in the alignment with the digital acquis, share common challenges in selecting appropriate regulatory models and in developing the institutional capacities required for the effective and consistent implementation of new digital rules.The round table aims to open a discussion on the full integration of the Western Balkans into the European democratic and digital framework, with the goal to bring together leading regional and international civil society organisation representatives, government and EU officials and experts. In a region that is digitally interconnected but institutionally under-equipped, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive governance approach. Strengthening EU initiatives, cross-border mechanisms, and strategic use of Growth Plan instruments can help address systemic risks, enhance institutional readiness, and reinforce democratic resilience across the region.The meeting will gather key actors from the region, including representatives of Montenegro's government, European Commission (DG CONNECT) and SHARE Foundation from Serbia who will present their findings.Important – This event is by invitation, and only registered participants will be admitted. Due to capacity constraints, all attendees must register, including those already holding a European Parliament access badge.

https://www.expert-europe.eu/en/event/democracy-shield-and-eu-enlargement-digital-perspectives/2025/12/09/340