The European Commission has presented the European Democracy Shield and the EU Strategy for Civil Society, two major initiatives designed to reinforce democratic resilience and civic engagement across the Union.  

The EU Strategy for Civil Society aims to foster engagement, strengthen protection, and ensure sustainable funding for civil society organisations. It includes the creation of a Civil Society Platform by 2026, an online Knowledge Hub on Civic Space, and increased financial support, with €9 billion proposed under the new AgoraEU programme. 

The European Democracy Shield sets out measures to protect the integrity of the information space, strengthen democratic institutions and media freedom, and boost citizens’ engagement. A new European Centre for Democratic Resilience will coordinate efforts among the Member States to detect and counter threats such as disinformation and foreign interference. The initiative also foresees enhanced cooperation on elections, new support for independent journalism, and actions to promote media literacy and civic participation. 

Both initiatives reflect the Commission’s commitment to safeguarding democratic values, free media, and open civic spaces, to which also sport organisations can be counted, at a time of growing internal and external pressures on democracy.