Defence of democracy package

Key points

The EESC:

• regrets that the Defence of Democracy package has been proposed much too late to ensure proper implementation before the 2024 European elections, and does not take on board the EESC’s suggestions concerning the European Democracy Action Plan;
• fully supports the objectives of the proposed Directive on interest representation of third countries, but strongly disagrees with the proposed means;
• calls for a comprehensive EU-level approach that does not:
  • bear additional costs or risks;
  • stigmatise interest representation service providers and shrink civic spaces in the EU;
  • reduce the scope of existing transparency registers at national level;
  • undermine the credibility of the EU as an international actor.
• but that would:
  • clearly define the terms used, especially ‘interest representation activity’;
  • provide clear criteria to assess which foreign entities are subject to the legislation;
  • cover all subcontractors in the EU;
  • close existing loopholes with regard to specific forms of funding.
• (concerning the Recommendation on elections) calls for harmonising the electoral process in all Member States to make it more inclusive and resilient, and fully accessible for all EU citizens with disabilities;
• (concerning the Recommendation on participation) calls for strengthening participative democracy and innovative forms of civic engagement, reforming the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), and setting up an EU-level framework for effective participation.