In defence of European values: The power of civil society

The EESC annual communication event for civil society communicators, the Connecting EU Seminar, will this year delve into Europe’s ability to uphold its core values as its economic priorities shift and pressure on democratic trust and civic spaces intensifies – and on how civil society can defend them.

As the old global order frays, Europe is doubling down on security, defence and competitiveness, while adjusting its social and environmental ambitions.

At the same time, democracy is taking hits from all sides: civil society is being squeezed out, confidence in institutions and independent media is eroding, and populist narratives, often boosted by foreign influences, are making it harder for citizens to know who to trust, weakening democracy from within.

Taking place on 6 and 7 July in Sofia under the title ‘In defence of European values: The power of civil society', the seminar will include two panels and an interactive programme with two breakout sessions and a workshop.

• Europe’s new economic compass: Balancing competitiveness, social rights and sustainability. Can Europe build an economic model that delivers both competitiveness and social fairness? How can the EU secure long-term growth, strengthen its global position, and protect what makes Europe distinctive: quality jobs, a resilient social model, and democratic stability?
• Europe’s democratic compass: Can trust and resilience be restored? Intensified foreign interference, populist attacks, smear campaigns, and funding cuts have weakened civil society and independent media. Can tools like the EU Democracy Shield fight back fast enough against disinformation and malign influence in today’s hectic communication landscape? Or does the EU have to rethink its social contract to remind people that democracy is not a given, but must be actively defended?
• AI as a friend, not a foe. Two breakout sessions will look at how AI can help communicators spot fake news, sharpen their message and work faster. The event will wrap up with a LinkedIn crash course for professional communicators on how to sharpen their voices, build visibility and reach the right audiences.

The 2026 Connecting EU Seminar will take place at the Sofia University ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’ in Sofia and is organised with the support of the Bulgarian Economic and Social Council, the European Parliament Liaison Office in Bulgaria and the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria.

The seminar is part of the ‘Connecting EU’ series, now in its 18th year. Every year, this event provides a platform for press and communication professionals from civil society organisations to network and discuss current issues of common interest affecting Europe. It brings together EESC members and other EU representatives, partner organisations from Member States, journalists and researchers to debate the hot issues of the day.