European democracy Action Plan
The European Commission launches an action plan to strengthen democracy in the countries of the Union
December 2020 is an intense month for a European Commission that wants to close the signing of the agreement (Brexit) with the United Kingdom before the end of the year and that, at the same time, is preparing to announce the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, documents that contain regulatory proposals that aim to organize a digital context dominated by the large online platforms.
President Ursula Von der Leyen signed last December 3rd a Communication addressed to the Parliament, the Council, the Social and Economic Committee and the Regions Committee of the Regions with an Action Plan for European Democracy, with the aim of strengthening the resilience of the democracies of the countries member of the Union to the challenges of digitalization, addressing areas where our systems and citizens are more vulnerable.
https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-198357?&lg=EN
The Action Plan builds on the experience of 2019 initiatives against the abuse of disinformation and cyber-incidents against electoral infrastructures on the occasion of the last elections to the European Parliament, and deepens the existing safeguards to ensure transparency and parity of resources during election campaigns that are not designed for the digital environment.
The concern for transparency and accountability of online platforms in relation to the publication of content without any control, as is happening with information on the Covid and the expected process of vaccination on a global scale, add to the challenge of enforcing supranational rules without established international standards.
In this case, the Action Plan goes beyond the EU institutions, national governments and parliaments, which have the main responsibility to ensure the proper functioning of democracy, reaching out to other national authorities, political parties, media, civil society and online platforms.
The Plan has 3 main lines of action, which can be summarized as follows:
1. PROTECTING ELECTION INTEGRITY AND PROMOTING DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION
|
Transparency of political advertising and communication |
Issue, in 2021, a legislative proposal to ensure better transparency of sponsored political content (politic advertisement) |
|
Adopting support and guidance measures for political parties and member States |
|
|
Clearer rules on the financing of European political parties |
To propose, in 2021, the revision of Regulation 1141 of 2014 on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations |
|
Strengthened cooperation in the EU to ensure free and fair elections |
Establish a new joint operational mechanism and other support measures, building on the work of the European Electoral Cooperation Network, to promote resilient electoral processes and take further practical steps to protect electoral infrastructure against threats, including cyber-attacks |
|
The Commission will organize a high-level event that will bring together various election-related authorities to address the challenges described in this plan |
|
|
Strengthen cooperation on equal treatment and balanced media coverage during elections |
|
|
Develop a compendium of good practices in relation to electronic voting |
|
|
Facilitate cooperation between EU and partner country networks and international organizations to build capacity and exchange best practices in the fight against electoral threats and promote high international standards in the use of new technologies |
|
|
Strengthen the capacity of EU election observation missions in third countries to observe and evaluate online election campaigns and follow up on their recommendations |
|
|
Promoting democratic engagement and active participation beyond elections |
Encourage the use of EU structural funds to finance civil society and develop institutional/administrative capacity and infrastructure for deliberative civic engagement and political participation |
|
Use EU funds and opportunities under the EU Youth Strategy, Education for Citizenship, the Creative Europe Programme and the Equality Agenda to promote access to democratic participation and confidence in democracy |
|
|
Fighting hate speech and promoting respect in the public debate by expanding the list of hate crimes and hate speech |
2. STRENGTHENING MEDIA FREEDOM AND MEDIA PLURALISM
|
Safety of journalists |
Recommendation on the safety of journalists in 2021, taking into account the new online threats faced by women journalists in particular |
|
Structured dialogue, in the framework of the European Media Forum, with Member States, stakeholders and international organizations to prepare and implement the recommendation |
|
|
Sustainable funding for projects with a focus on legal and practical assistance to journalists in the EU and elsewhere, including safety and cyber security training for journalists and diplomatic support |
|
|
Fighting abusive use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) |
Establish a SLAPPs expert group in early 2021 |
|
Present an initiative to protect journalists and civil society against SLAPPs by the end of 2021 |
|
|
Closer cooperation to develop and implement professional standards |
Support EU cooperation between national media councils, other media self-regulatory bodies, independent media regulators and journalists' networks, and initiatives that promote journalistic partnerships and standards |
|
Additional measures to support media pluralism |
Set up the Media Ownership Monitor and develop further possible guidance on the transparency of media ownership |
|
Foster measures for the transparent and fair allocation of state advertising |
|
|
Map options for further support for media diversity and foster a European approach on the prominence of audiovisual media services of general interest |
3. COUNTERING DISINFORMATION
|
Improving EU and Member State capacity to counter disinformation |
Desarrollar la caja de herramientas de la UE para contrarrestar la interferencia extranjera y las operaciones de influencia, incluidos nuevos instrumentos que permitan imponer costos a los perpetradores, así como fortalecer las actividades de comunicación estratégica y los grupos de trabajo del SEAE |
|
Poner en marcha un nuevo protocolo para fortalecer las estructuras de cooperación existentes para luchar contra la desinformación, tanto en la UE como a nivel internacional |
|
|
Develop a common framework and methodology for collecting systematic evidence on foreign interference and a structural dialogue with civil society, private industry actors and other relevant stakeholders to regularly review the threat situation |
|
|
Increase support for capacity-building of national authorities, independent media and civil society in third countries to detect and respond to disinformation and foreign influence operations |
|
|
More obligations and accountability for online platforms |
Issue guidance for strengthening the Code of Practice on Disinformation (Spring 2021) |
|
Convene the signatories of the Code of Practice and relevant stakeholders groups to strengthen the code according to the guidance |
|
|
Set up a permanent framework for the monitoring of the code |
|
|
Empowering citizens to make informed decisions |
Support new innovative projects to fight disinformation under various EU programmes, in particular by civil society organisations and higher education institutions, with journalists’ involvement |
|
Increase support and funding for and diversifying initiatives, including by civil society organisations, to promote media literacy and help citizens identify disinformation, within the EU and beyond |
The gradual implementation of the package of measures proposed in the Action Plan is intended to give Europe a stronger democratic basis for meeting the unprecedented economic, climate and health challenges we face, in full respect of the Union's common principles and values.
The Commission will review the implementation of the Action Plan in 2023, one year before the European Parliament elections, and reflect on whether additional measures are needed.
The Commission expects greater involvement of the European Parliament and the Council, as well as of the wide circle of national actors, public and private, beyond government authorities, which will be essential to ensure the resilience of our democracy.
Add comment