European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has highlighted the importance of protecting democratic institutions, strengthening social resilience and addressing foreign interference as the European Union expands participation in its European Centre for Democratic Resilience.

In her statement, von der Leyen emphasised that democracy requires continuous protection and support rather than being treated as something that can be taken for granted. She underlined the need for sustained efforts to safeguard democratic values across countries and societies.

The European Centre for Democratic Resilience brings together EU member states to support cooperation on democratic resilience. Its work focuses on helping participating countries strengthen their democratic systems, improve their societies’ ability to withstand pressure and respond to challenges posed by foreign interference.

A significant development announced in von der Leyen’s remarks is that countries seeking EU membership can now also participate in this cooperation. The expanded involvement creates an opportunity for candidate countries to engage with existing EU members on issues related to democratic protection and resilience.

Cooperation at the Centre of Democratic Protection

The initiative reflects an approach based on collaboration and the exchange of experience. By bringing countries together, the centre provides a framework for sharing knowledge, discussing common challenges and exploring ways to protect democratic institutions.

Foreign interference is among the issues highlighted in the initiative. Such interference can raise concerns about the integrity of public debate, the reliability of information and the ability of democratic institutions to operate without external pressure. Cooperation between countries can help them exchange experiences and develop responses to shared risks.

The inclusion of EU candidate countries broadens the scope of this collaborative effort. It allows countries preparing for potential membership to take part in discussions and learn from the experiences of existing member states, while contributing their own perspectives.

Building Resilient Societies Across Europe

Democratic resilience extends beyond elections and government institutions. It also involves public trust, informed participation, independent institutions and the capacity of societies to respond to attempts to undermine democratic processes.

Von der Leyen’s remarks stressed that countries can become more resilient by learning from one another. This principle places cooperation and shared knowledge at the heart of the initiative, recognising that challenges affecting democratic systems can cross national borders.

The expanded participation of candidate countries also connects democratic resilience with the EU enlargement process. Cooperation on democratic safeguards can provide a forum for discussing common principles and practical approaches, although participation in the centre does not itself establish that a candidate country has fulfilled the requirements for EU membership.

The initiative highlights the European Union’s continued focus on cooperation to protect democratic institutions and strengthen societies against external interference. By extending participation beyond current member states, the European Centre for Democratic Resilience aims to encourage a broader exchange of experience and support collective efforts to address challenges facing democracies across Europe.