Former Commissioner Věra Jourová, now chairing the Democracy27 citizens' initiative, presented the project to the European Parliament's EUDS committee on 2 June 2026 as a privately funded, independent complement to the EU's Democracy Shield. She argued that democracy must be 'repairable' and outlined a plan to gather citizen input across 24 languages, focusing on communication, education, civil society, digital adaptation, and AI transparency.
Jourová, who served as Values and Transparency Commissioner until 2024, stressed that Democracy27 is not an EU institution but a civil-society-led effort. She supported the creation of a European Centre for Democratic Resilience and insisted that the Digital Services Act (DSA) must be enforced, adding that better data analysis is needed to counter disinformation.
MEPs from across the political spectrum pressed Jourová on the initiative's independence and scope. S&D's Juan Fernando López Aguilar asked about the proposed resilience centre and DSA enforcement. EPP's Michał Wawrykiewicz praised Jourová's shift from institution to NGO and inquired about a rule-of-law cycle. S&D's Sandro Ruotolo raised concerns over spyware abuses and algorithm-driven polarisation.
Patriots for Europe MEPs Csaba Domotor and Hermann Tertsch questioned the legitimacy and transparency of fact-checkers and the project's independence. Domotor alleged Commission pressure on platforms, while Tertsch linked the initiative to fears of election outcomes. PfE's Fabrice Leggeri challenged Jourová's mandate and independence. ECR's Petar Volgin argued that threats to democracy come from within EU institutions, citing media bans and the case of Călin Georgescu. Non-attached MEP Christine Anderson accused the Commission and fact-checkers of spreading disinformation on COVID-19 origins.
Jourová defended the DSA as a balanced tool and stressed the need for transparent AI use. She did not directly address allegations of Commission pressure but reiterated that Democracy27 is independent and privately funded.
Democracy27 will hold country consultations through late 2026, with recommendations due in early 2027.
The initiative could strengthen civil society and citizen engagement, but its independence from EU institutions may limit its influence on policy. Digital platforms face potential new transparency requirements if recommendations are adopted. National governments may see pressure to align with citizen-driven democracy standards. Young citizens could gain a new channel for input, though the project's impact depends on follow-through.