[European Democracy Shield] Neither a Shield, Nor Democratic
Like the DSA it builds upon, the European Democracy Shield — yet another of the Commission’s eccentric inventions — will do nothing to curb ‘disinformation.’ Its true purpose lies elsewhere.
Brussels has rolled out its latest initiative: the “European Democracy Shield.” In truth, the Shield is a shield in name only, and “democratic” merely as a decorative adjective. If one is feeling generous, one could grant that the scheme is European—at least on paper. Its actual implementation is another story entirely.
Let’s take a step back.
What is the Democracy Shield, exactly? Officially, it’s a framework meant to bolster democratic institutions, safeguard free elections, support independent media, and counter information manipulation. The list of proposed measures is long: a new European Centre for Democratic Resilience, an expanded “independent” EU fact-checking network, more funding for “independent” and local journalism, media-literacy programs, and the promotion of EU values —see the European Commission’s communication.
The brazen use of the term “independent” is striking, considering that all of this would be orchestrated and funded by the European Commission.
Brussels is going all in. The financial backing proposed for civil society organizations, NGOs, media outlets, and academics is staggering: €9 billion has been earmarked for the AgoraEU programme alone, spanning 2028–2034. This initiative bundles together an impressive array of projects—from promoting cultural and linguistic diversity to supporting artistic creation, combating disinformation, and fostering democratic participation and resilience.
Sound familiar? It should. AgoraEU is essentially an expanded version of the existing CERV programme, which allocated €1.5 billion for 2021–2027 to “protect and promote fundamental rights.” In practice, however, it has functioned as a tool to reinforce pro-EU narratives and actively counter Eurosceptic voices, blurring the line between value promotion and overt pro-EU messaging, as Thomas Fazi demonstrates in his report “The EU’s Propaganda Machine”.