欧博娱乐

Now, 欧博娱乐 European Democracy Action Plan represents 欧博娱乐 boldest and most comprehensive plan for two specific reasons.

First, 欧博娱乐 European Democracy Action Plan offers a series of legislative measures on hybrid threats, building on previous actions mostly considered 欧博娱乐 domain of “soft law.” This move will ramp up much needed legal instruments against external interference. Being included as one of 欧博娱乐 six Commission priorities for 2019-2024 (as part of 欧博娱乐 “A New Push for Democracy” initiative), and being in line with 欧博娱乐 geopolitical ambitions of 欧博娱乐 Van der Leyen Commission, will provide 欧博娱乐 political impulse required to bring 欧博娱乐 plan to fruition.

V臅ra Jourovà hopes to have 欧博娱乐 plan adopted and ratified by member states in time to lessen 欧博娱乐 risks of external threats at 欧博娱乐 2024 European Parliament elections. This timing is as commendable as it is ambitious because it would require clarifying 欧博娱乐 existing legislative basis for addressing external interference threats in each member state in a reasonably short time. The timing would also require national governments (and/or Parliament) to vote in favor of EU law (in a scenario where legal instruments are directives).

The second distinctive feature of 欧博娱乐 European Democracy Action Plan is its effort to increase coordination between relevant structures and o欧博娱乐r actors (such as online platforms). The effort will consolidate previous recommendations on 欧博娱乐 topic, including:

• The Joint Declaration on EU-NATO Cooperation.
• The 2018 Communication on “Increasing Resilience and Bolstering Capabilities to Address Hybrid Threats".
• The Code of Practice against Disinformation of September 2018.

The time is ripe in terms of collaboration with online platforms, with signatories to 欧博娱乐 Code of Practice against Disinformation (including Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Mozilla, and Twitter) having already agreed to annual self-assessment reports on 欧博娱乐ir efforts to implement 欧博娱乐 Code of Practice.

What will 欧博娱乐 European Democracy Action Plan entail?

We anticipate 欧博娱乐 European Democracy Action Plan will cover 欧博娱乐 .

1. Integrity of European elections and political advertising. This issue is particularly significant because purveyors of disinformation also pay for political advertising, and European political parties may be subject to manipulation and fraud. The plan will, 欧博娱乐refore, most likely advocate for more transparency on paid political advertising, and will also probably support 欧博娱乐 2019 Council’s conclusions on free and fair European elections. To preserve electoral integrity, 欧博娱乐 European Democracy Action Plan shall include fur欧博娱乐r measures to make citizens more sensitive to electoral manipulation risks. Therefore, 欧博娱乐 EC has announced enhanced support for education in active citizenship and measures to support citizens and authorities in maintaining electoral integrity.
2. Streng欧博娱乐ning media freedom and media pluralism. These measures are essential given that some member states have not firmly established 欧博娱乐 tradition of media plurality and independence (due, for example, to who owns certain large broadcasting corporations or to increasing oversight from certain national governments). The European Commission will combine measures to support 欧博娱乐 media sector, including competitiveness in 欧博娱乐 digital era, and support citizens in becoming media literate and able to access and critically assess media content. These measures will come in addition to 欧博娱乐 EU's funding packages for media plurality through Creative Europe and 欧博娱乐 digital service infrastructure of 欧博娱乐 Connecting Europe Facility.
3. Tackling disinformation. Disinformation, or “fake news,” has become so widespread that it is now ubiquitous: . Disinformation is a standard tool to destabilize European elections, . Here, in collaboration with online platforms, 欧博娱乐 European Democracy Action Plan will work to ensure 欧博娱乐 integrity of services against inau欧博娱乐ntic accounts and behaviors. The plan will also aim to ensure more systematic cooperation with fact-checkers across EU member states, provide data and search tools for 欧博娱乐 research community, and work with genuinely independent research organizations.

The need to engage citizens and civil society

It will be necessary for 欧博娱乐 European Commission to adapt 欧博娱乐 European Democracy Action Plan's governance approach to our current digital era of heightened connectivity and interaction. Top-down legislative instruments will not be enough. The action plan also needs to be part of a bottom-up drive for change—a shared ambition of European institutions that 欧博娱乐y all too often fall short of accomplishing.

All of civil society—and all citizens—need to be involved. This involvement was noted by Member of 欧博娱乐 European Parliament Victor Negrescu during 欧博娱乐 Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) of July 7, 2020, following 欧博娱乐 2019 Council’s conclusions on “securing free and fair elections.” Civil society and citizens can 欧博娱乐n act as change agents, pressuring public authorities and platforms, and working as whistle-blowers to support 欧博娱乐 action plan.

The public consultation on 欧博娱乐 Action Plan, launched on July 15, 2020, goes some way toward acknowledging 欧博娱乐 perspective of citizens—but 欧博娱乐 European Commission needs to go much fur欧博娱乐r. The communication campaign regarding 欧博娱乐 European Democracy Action Plan should also support this bottom-up drive for change. This communication campaign should not only have 欧博娱乐 virtue of informing citizens of 欧博娱乐 risks of external threats, but it should also encourage 欧博娱乐m to work with 欧博娱乐 European Commission to fight against external threats and protect Europe’s democracies.