The European Union is advancing a landmark initiative, the European Democracy Shield, designed to fortify democratic values by protecting media freedom, countering disinformation, and ensuring election integrity. Announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in 2024, the Shield represents a comprehensive response to rising threats against democracy in Europe, including foreign interference, attacks on journalists, and the growing influence of online platforms. As public consultations closed on May 26, 2025, stakeholders across Europe are calling for urgent political and financial commitment to turn the Shield’s ambitious reforms into reality.
Strengthening Media Freedom at the Core of the Democracy Shield
The European Democracy Shield builds on a series of legislative efforts from 2019 to 2024 aimed at defending media freedom. Central among these is the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), adopted in 2024, which seeks to prevent media capture by vested interests and safeguard editorial independence across the EU. The EMFA establishes a framework for independent public service media with stable funding, transparency in media ownership, and protections against undue political influence.
Other key measures include the 2022 Directive to limit Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), which curb abusive lawsuits intended to silence critical journalism, and a 2021 Recommendation on journalists’ safety that guides member states in protecting media workers from threats and violence.
Despite these advances, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) warns that journalists need to see these tools working on the ground. Tom Gibson, CPJ Deputy Advocacy Director for the EU, emphasized that the Shield must provide a clear roadmap for implementation, urging member states to back the initiative with both financial resources and political will to save journalism in Europe.
Tackling Disinformation and Foreign Interference
A major focus of the Democracy Shield is combating foreign information manipulation and disinformation campaigns that undermine democratic processes. The European Commission has pledged to coordinate efforts on disinformation, digital and media literacy, and election integrity as part of its broader democracy protection agenda.
On April 1, 2025, the Commission launched a €5 million call for proposals to support a European Network of Fact-Checkers. This initiative aims to strengthen fact-checking capacity across all EU member states and languages, protect fact-checkers from harassment, and build rapid response capabilities to counter disinformation during crises. The network will complement existing structures like the European Digital Media Observatory and the European Fact-Checking Standards Network27.
Economic Sustainability: A Crucial Pillar for Media Resilience
The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) highlights that media freedom cannot be secured without addressing the economic crisis facing independent journalism. The shift in advertising revenue to very large online platforms (VLOPs) has caused a 50-70% decline in income for news publishers, forcing media outlets to pay to promote their own content and compete with the platforms profiting from their work.
ECPMF calls for mechanisms to rebalance power between news producers and platforms, including fair compensation for journalistic content and strict enforcement of data protection laws to regulate spyware and intrusive surveillance. They also stress the need to integrate AI education into journalism training and promote ethical AI tools that can help detect disinformation, while raising awareness of AI’s limitations and risks such as bias and hallucinations5.
Protecting Journalists and Enhancing Media Literacy
The Shield also prioritizes the safety of journalists amid rising threats. In 2024, Europe documented 1,548 violations against media workers, underscoring the urgency of protective measures. The initiative builds on the 2021 Recommendation on journalists’ safety and aims to strengthen legal and practical safeguards.
Moreover, combating disinformation requires robust media and digital literacy. The ECPMF advocates for enhanced cooperation between governments, internet service providers, media organizations, and press freedom groups to counter spoofing, coordinated disinformation campaigns, and cyber deception. Strong enforcement of platform accountability and due diligence is vital to prevent the spread of false content and protect democratic discourse5.
Reactions from Media Freedom Advocates and Civil Society
The European Democracy Shield has garnered broad support from press freedom organizations and civil society groups, who see it as a necessary successor to the European Democracy Action Plan (EDAP). The Good Lobby and 49 other pro-democracy organizations emphasize the Shield’s role in addressing democratic backsliding globally by building on key legislation such as the EMFA, Anti-SLAPP Directive, Digital Services Act, and AI Act6.
The International Press Institute (IPI) and other groups call for an ambitious approach that fixes the financial crisis in the media sector and combats media capture, warning that a strong, independent media sector is the best defense against polarization and disinformation.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) stresses the importance of including media innovation in the Shield, particularly harnessing AI and data-driven tools to deliver trusted information to the public.
Legislative Framework and Next Steps
The Democracy Shield is designed to ensure swift and effective implementation of existing laws, including:
- European Media Freedom Act (EMFA)
- Anti-SLAPP Directive
- Regulation on Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising
- Digital Services Act (DSA)
- Digital Markets Act (DMA)
- AI Act
The Commission has established a dedicated project group on democracy to coordinate these efforts and plans to continue engaging with stakeholders to refine the Shield’s measures.
The European Democracy Shield represents a critical step in safeguarding democracy by protecting media freedom, empowering journalists, and countering disinformation. However, its success hinges on the political commitment and financial support of EU member states to implement reforms effectively. Without decisive action, the foundations of European democracy risk erosion amid rising threats online and offline.
As the EU moves forward with this ambitious initiative, the call from media freedom advocates is clear: the Democracy Shield must translate legislative promises into tangible protections that ensure a resilient, independent, and sustainable media landscape for Europe’s democratic future.
