Europe’s democracies must fight back

The EPP Group calls for stronger measures to protect European democracies against foreign interference and hybrid threats. The EU must respond together with stronger tools, greater preparedness and real operational capacity.

"Foreign information manipulation, disinformation and hybrid interference are becoming increasingly sophisticated and coordinated. Russia remains the primary threat to Europe’s democratic integrity, and no Member State can counter it effectively on its own," said Tomas Tobé MEP, EPP Group vice-chair, after today’s vote in Parliament’s Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield.

The committee adopted a report drafted by Tobé. "We call for a concrete reform agenda centred on stronger operational capabilities, greater accountability and enhanced preparedness," Tobé explained. The report puts forward a wide range of ambitious reforms and draws on dozens of hearings and discussions with experts that the committee has held since the beginning of its mandate in 2024.

"In an increasingly uncertain global environment, we must safeguard European cooperation, our democracy, and our shared values. I both hope and expect that an ambitious European Union will make this possible in practice. The European Democracy Shield initiative, presented by the European Commission in November 2025, is a welcome step, but it does not yet match the scale and urgency of the threats facing Europe’s democracies," Tobé emphasised.

The final plenary vote is scheduled for September.

Tobé MEP will hold a press conference on this topic later today. More information is available here.

Watch the press conference here.