This exploratory opinion, requested by the Danish Presidency, outlines how AI and Big Data can improve rare disease patient pathways and support the development of personalised treatments. It highlights the main challenges linked to their use, such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, affordability, and geographical accessibility. In the text, the EESC puts forward recommendations to ensure that these technologies are applied in an ethical, inclusive, and patient-centred way.
In this Opinion, the EESC warns that democracy, the rule of law and European values face growing threats from both external actors, such as third-country governments and tech companies, and internal ones, including some Member States, extremist parties and 'uncivil' society. It calls for stronger EU action through stricter enforcement of rule of law standards and conditionality, protection of civic space, and simpler, fairer funding for civil society, starting with the next multiannual financial framework (MFF). The EESC urges embedding democracy protection in enlargement policy and supporting candidate countries to build resilience. The Opinion also highlights the fight against disinformation and propaganda, promoting media literacy, reducing digital dependence on third countries, and reinforcing initiatives such as EuroStack and East StratCom to strengthen democratic resilience.
