Programme

Public hearing on "Defence of democracy package" (SOC/773)

Via Interactio, online platform, EESC, VMA22, Monday, 5 February 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The European Commission announced the Defence of Democracy Package as a way to promote free and fair elections, to fight disinformation, and to develop civic space and citizen participation. The initiative has raised much interest but also concerns amongst civil society actors fearing that aspects addressing interference from non-EU countries could affect civic space. This hearing will invite relevant actors to clarify the content of the Package, in order to feed the EESC Opinion.

Content of the Defence of Democracy Package:

  • Directive establishing harmonised requirements in the internal market on transparency of interest representation activities carried out on behalf of third countries
  • Recommendation on an inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union and enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament
  • Recommendation on promoting the engagement and effective participation of citizens and civil society organisations in public policy-making processes

09.30 a.m. - 10.00 a.m. | Log on to platform / Interactio testing for speakers

10.00 a.m. - 10.45 a.m. | Welcome and presentation of the package

Moderator: Paul Soete, President of the Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Group (FRRL)

  • Julien Mousnier, Director for Rule of Law, Fundamental Rights, and Democracy, European Commission Directorate for Justice and Consumers (DG JUST C1)
  • MEP (to be nominated), Rapporteur on the Defence of Democracy Package

Q&A

10.45 a.m. - 11.45 a.m. | Panel I - Transparency of interest representation

This session will concern the legislation establishing harmonised requirements in the internal market on transparency of interest representation activities carried out on behalf of third countries

Moderator: Christian Moos, EESC Rapporteur

  • Carlotta Besozzi, Director, Civil Society Europe

  • Christelle Savall, President, JEF Europe (Young European Federalists)

  • Ken Godfrey, Executive Director, European Partnership for Democracy (EPD)

  • Nicholas Aiossa, Director, Transparency International EU

Q&A

11.45 a.m. - 12.45 p.m. | Panel II- Effective participation and resilience electoral processes

This session will concern the two recommendations on "inclusive and resilient electoral processes" and "engagement and effective participation of citizens and civil society organisations"

Moderator: José Antonio Moreno Díaz, EESC Co-Rapporteur

  • Aarti Narsee, Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer, European Civic Forum

  • Hanna Surmatz, Head of Policy, Philanthropy Europe Association (Philea)

  • Armin Rabitsch, Chairperson, Election-Watch.EU

Q&A

12.45 p.m. - 01.00 p.m. | Closing remarks

  • Christian Moos, EESC Rapporteur
  • José Antonio Moreno Díaz, EESC Co-Rapporteur
  • Laurenţiu Plosceanu, President of the Study Group

 

Interpretation requested from Spanish, German, English, French, Portuguese & Romanian into Spanish, German, English & French