Ethics Group issues new Statement on defending democracy and its values

European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE), an independent advisory body to the Commission, handed over a Statement on “Defending democracy in Europe: Addressing the threat of authoritarian populism and reinforcing democratic practice” to Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica.

The EGE’s Statement analyses the characteristics of recent authoritarian movements and describes how they are incompatible with a substantive understanding of democracy: one that does not limit democracy to elections but consists in a rich set of democratic practices that make the fundamental rights and values – which form its foundation – real. The EGE stresses that hollowed-out democracies and hollowed-out welfare systems make our societies vulnerable to those who promise easy solutions for all, while they really pursue private or authoritarian interests.

The statement includes a set of recommendations developed by the group.

Statement on defending democracy in Europe - Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu)