European Commission (EC) Vice-Presidents Josep Borrell and Dubravka Suica warned today, in a joint statement to mark the International Day of Democracy, that “democracy is fragile and requires constant vigilance”.
“The last decade has shown that democracy is fragile and requires constant vigilance. We must continue working to improve the resilience of our democracies and reject any attempt to undermine them, both within and outside the EU”, said the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Commissioner for Democracy and Demography, underlining the commitment of the 27 “to strengthen and defend democracy”.
The European Union supports “all those who defend democratic values and universal rights”, the declaration adds, underlining “the collective responsibility to build resilient and inclusive societies for present and future generations”.
During 2024, almost 100 countries around the world held or will hold elections, 50 of which will be presidential, including the elections for the European Parliament, in which 400 million citizens of the 27 Member States of the European Union renewed the bloc’s parliamentary representatives.
The EU “commends” those who defend democracy, often “at great personal risk”, the two EC vice-presidents said, adding that “defending democracy is fundamental to preserving and promoting the dignity of all citizens, as well as to fostering social justice, inclusive development and peace”.
Political violence, electoral manipulation, fraud, misuse of state resources, disinformation or foreign interference are actions that “compromise the integrity of elections and the foundations of democracy”, they further stated in the statement.
The EU uses instruments such as election observation missions, among others, to identify, persuade, dissuade and issue recommendations on these issues, although “this is not a one-day task”. “The European Union’s commitment goes beyond elections”, said Borrell and Suica.
The Spaniard and the Croatian stressed that “the EU defends and supports independent media, the safety of journalists and the fight against disinformation online and offline, while promoting a fair digital transformation”.
The theme of this year’s International Day of Democracy, which is celebrated on Sunday, September 15, focuses on the importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool for good governance.
The latest UN report included recommendations on how to harness the benefits of AI while mitigating the risks, and identified four principles that should guide the formation of new global AI governance institutions: inclusiveness, public interest, centrality of data governance, and international law.
Source: www.jornaldenegocios.pt
