Text · Opinion parliamentary committee draft
On the EU strategy to face the new theories against democracy
Document DEVE-PA-781231 · 2025/2050(INI)
- Kind
- Opinion parliamentary committee draft DEVE-PA-781231
- Date
- 4 December 2025
- Committee
- Committee on Development
- Rapporteur
- Marco Tarquinio
- Dossier
- 2025-2050
More facts (3)
- Formats
- Official page PDF Word
- Subject matter
- DDLH
- Reference
- 2025/2050(INI)
Text
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Back matter, 1
Parts that accompany the text rather than belong to it: explanatory statement, annexes, opinions appended by other committees. Collapsed.
Amendments 246 blocks
The Committee on Development submits the following to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, as the committee responsible:
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to Articles 2, 9, 10, 11 and 21 of the Treaty on European Union, | – having regard to Articles 2, 3, 9, 10, 11 and 21 of the Treaty on European Union, |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 June 2021 establishing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – Global Europe, amending and repealing Decision No 466/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EU) 2017/1601 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 480/20091a, ______________ 1a OJ L 209, 14.6.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/947/oj. |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to the joint statement of 30 June 2017 by the Council and the representatives of the governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission entitled ‘The New European Consensus on Development – “Our world, our dignity, our future“’, |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 25 March 2020 entitled ‘EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024’, further extended until 2027 (JOIN(2020)0005), |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 25 November 2020 entitled ‘EU Gender Action Plan (GAP) III – An ambitious agenda for gender equality and women’s empowerment in EU external action’ (JOIN(2020)0017), |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 1 December 2021 entitled ‘The Global Gateway’ (JOIN(2021)0030), |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 4 October 2022 entitled ‘Youth Action Plan (YAP) in EU External Action 2022-2027 – Promoting meaningful youth participation and empowerment in EU external action for sustainable development, equality and peace’ (JOIN(2022)0053), |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to the Commission Communication on the defence of democracy and the Communication on the European Democracy Action Plan, | deleted. |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| – having regard to the Council Conclusions of 14 October 2019 on democracy, |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
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| – having regard to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in September 2015, |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| -A. whereas democracy, the rule of law and human rights are founding values of the Union and guiding principles of its external action, as set out in Articles 2 and 21 of the TEU; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| A. whereas the very idea of democracy is now being rejected by a school of thought in the United States known as Neo-Reaction, which has significant influence in the White House, in leading tech companies and within several far-right movements, particularly in Europe; | A. whereas democracy is being challenged and called into question at national and international levels; whereas anti-democratic narratives are spreading in all regions of the world; whereas the very idea of democracy is now being rejected not only by authoritarian regimes but also by a school of thought in the United States known as Neo-Reaction, which has significant influence in the White House, in leading tech companies and within several far-right movements, particularly in Europe; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| C. whereas democracy is in danger and the surest way to defend it is to increase the influence and reach of the European Union by establishing this upholder of the rule of law as one of the three great powers of this century; | C. whereas the rise in armed conflicts, authoritarianism, democratic backsliding across the world, the persistent erosion of human rights, disinformation and the malign use of rapidly evolving technologies challenge democracy worldwide and confirm the need for a stronger, more resolute, effective, coherent and value-based EU external action, grounded in the promotion of human rights, the rule of law, social justice and effective multilateralism; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Ca. whereas the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2027 highlights the need for coordinated action by the EU and its Member States aimed at protecting and empowering individuals, building resilient, inclusive and democratic societies, strengthening multilateralism and promoting the rule-based international order, with the UN human rights system at its centre, harnessing opportunities and addressing challenges created by new technologies; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Cb. whereas the effective implementation of SDG 16 on ‘promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, ensuring access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable and transparent institutions’ is central to sustainable development and democratic resilience in partner countries; whereas supporting institutional reforms, strengthening the rule of law, combating corruption and fostering inclusive, participatory and non-discriminatory decision-making are key components of EU development cooperation and partnerships; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Cc. whereas the shifting global context, particularly the significant cuts in US foreign aid, as well as the decrease in some EU Member States’ development assistance, have had a significant impact on democracy support programmes in partner countries, leaving democratic actors with reduced protection and fewer means to defend democracy; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Cd. whereas education is a lever for progress and it is vital to democracy and civic participation; whereas education is an effective tool for reducing inequalities, boosting human potential and shaping a more equitable and sustainable future; whereas the shrinking space for academic freedom is intrinsically connected to the global expansion of authoritarianism; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Ce. whereas corruption undermines democracy and trust in institutions; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Cf. whereas civil society organisations (CSOs) are crucial partners in the EU’s efforts to advance democracy in partner countries; whereas the space for civil society is shrinking globally, as part of a general authoritarian and antidemocratic drift; whereas women’s rights organisations are particularly targeted by the anti-gender narrative and the decrease in funding in developing countries; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Cg. whereas in 2024 more than two thirds of new Global Gateway projects were implemented in hybrid or authoritarian regimes; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Ch. whereas EU Election Observation Missions (EOMs) play a crucial role in strengthening democratic processes in partner countries by providing independent, impartial and comprehensive assessments of electoral frameworks and their implementation; whereas these missions help enhance transparency, public trust and accountability throughout the entire electoral cycle, including the post-electoral period; whereas they support local stakeholders in advancing reforms that promote free, fair, inclusive and credible elections; whereas sustained follow-up to EOM recommendations is essential for consolidating democratic governance, the rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 1. Calls on the European Union to rise to this historic challenge by equipping itself with the means to extend its influence to other continents, to enlarge its ranks, to make its institutions better understood by the rest of the world and by its own citizens, to develop its trade relations with the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America on the basis of sustainable development, to invest in research, and to accelerate its progress towards common defence and the consolidation of global industrial giants; | deleted. |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. Calls on the European Union and its Member States to work towards establishing a bloc of countries that reject any unequal relationship with China, the United States or both; believes that this would establish a new diplomatic and commercial balance of power, without which we would be unable to defend democracy against powers that reject or turn away from it; | 2. Calls on the European Union and its Member States to foster human rights and democracy globally by strengthening mutual partnerships and multilateralism in order to better tackle global challenges; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3. Calls on the European Union to form a coalition, a ‘democratic entente’, with those third countries that share the universal values of democracy, which would work to defend democracy and promote international cooperation; stresses that the ‘coalition of the willing’ paves the way for the establishment of such an entente; | 3. Recalls the EU’s efforts to support multilateralism that promotes the rule-based international order with the UN human rights system at its centre; reiterates its support for the UN Secretary-General’s drive for ‘peace in all its dimensions’ by protecting human rights, deepening social justice, preventing conflicts and promoting sustainable development; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 5. Calls on the Union to work without delay to promote co-development with African states and the African Union; points out that by 2050, Africa will have a population of two and a half billion people who will need jobs so that they do not attempt to enter Europe illegally; that this co-development will be facilitated by the languages that our continents share; that its financial and environmental cost will be much lower than that of trade with Asia; and that Africa is the future of Europe, just as Europe is the future of Africa; | 5. Recalls that Europe and Africa are closely interconnected through shared global challenges and opportunities; calls on the EU to further develop mutually beneficial partnerships with African states and the African Union; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 5a. Stresses that the EU should nurture relationships with like-minded countries on all continents; recalls the EU’s efforts to promote and protect democracy and to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 6. Calls on the Union to set up a multilingual radio station, website and television channel, to be named ‘The Voice of Europe’, which would enable it to make its voice heard throughout the world; stresses that the necessary budgets and human capital are available, as several Member States have long been funding high-quality international audiovisual services; calls on the European Union to strengthen its support for independent media and journalism beyond the Union’s borders, in line with the objectives of the European Democracy Shield; | 6. Calls on the EU institutions to increase their support for independent media and journalism worldwide in combating undue pressure, threats and attacks; calls for the EU to create a multilingual radio station, website and television channel to promote the EU values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights across the world; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 7. Regrets that the Union is too often perceived around the world as a bureaucracy that lacks democratic legitimacy; considers that Member States should elect their national leaders at the same time and for terms of equal length in order to present the Union as a single democratic power on the international stage and to strengthen its citizens’ sense of belonging to a single democracy; stresses that this harmonisation of electoral timetables should clearly be implemented in phases; | deleted. |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 8. Stresses the need to set a strict cap on national and European election spending within the Union in order to demonstrate the exemplary character of its democracy internationally, putting the discourse of ideas first over the hype and misleading campaigns that foreign powers are increasingly resorting to; underlines that this defence of the dignity of public debate must also involve the preservation, in each Member State, of politically neutral public broadcasters producing high-quality programmes and fiction; | 8. Calls on the Commission, the EU delegations and the Member States to counter disinformation and anti-democratic narratives by supporting civic education, enhancing digital literacy and promoting equitable access to digital technologies; stresses the importance of addressing digital inequalities and protecting human rights online; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 8a. Calls on the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Member States to continue strengthening EU EOMs as a key instrument for supporting democratic processes in partner countries, in particular in developing countries, and to ensure that they remain independent, impartial and adequately mandated and resourced throughout the entire electoral cycle, including follow-up to their recommendations; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 8b. Urges the EU’s institutions and Member States to provide comprehensive assistance to partner countries to prevent and combat corruption by supporting judiciary and public administration reform, effective anti-corruption strategies and legal frameworks, including on whistleblowers and witness protection; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 9. Urges the Union and the Member States to impose stricter limits on the size of media groups and to remain faithful to the spirit and international standards of the Digital Services Act by making social media subject to the same rules, prohibitions and sanctions as print and broadcast media; | deleted. |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 10. Proposes that future treaties could rename the European Council the ‘Chamber of States’ and Parliament the ‘Chamber of the Union’; believes that third countries and European citizens would then see more clearly that decision-making in the Union is indeed the responsibility of co-legislators which are democratically elected, directly in the case of the Parliament, and indirectly in the case of the Council, which is made up of national leaders elected by their respective countries; | deleted. |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 11. Considers that, at a time when the Union is asserting itself as a player on the international stage and establishing a common defence policy, European diplomacy must be conducted by an elected political body; suggests that attaching the European External Action Service to the European Council is an option that should be explored; | 11. Underlines the EU policy to preserve peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen international security; underlines the importance of preventive diplomacy; regrets the budgetary cuts affecting the European External Action Service and underlines their negative impact on the implementation of the external affairs instruments, such as NDICI and Global Gateway; urges the Members States to provide adequate and predictable financing to the EEAS and the Commission to enable the EU to maintain a strong diplomatic presence worldwide; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 12. Recalls that the Treaty on European Union provides that the Union shall work for ‘the sustainable development of Europe’ and for a ‘a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full employment and social progress’; stresses that the Union’s economic debates should therefore focus on how best to develop a market economy that respects social equity and the environment, and in which the public authorities play the role of arbitrator, both between the short and long term and between the interests of employees and shareholders; considers that this will affirm the Union’s unique identity as a social democracy and restore the vitality of the democratic and social consensus established by the United Nations in the post-war period; considers that affirming this identity will add to the European Union’s prestige across the five continents and to its defence of democracy and social rights, and will generate an exponential increase in interest among its citizens in the debates of the Council and Parliament; | 12. Recalls that the Treaty on European Union commits the Union to sustainable development and social justice, which in turn require economic policies that reduce inequalities, strengthen social protection and promote climate-resilient and inclusive development; underlines that this social and rights-based approach is key to safeguarding democratic governance and the Union’s credibility globally; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 13. Expects the Union to stop obstructing industrial consolidation and public aid for strategic companies, so that we can pit Europe’s giants against the giants of other powers that receive state support; | deleted. |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 14. Recalls that academic freedom is essential to teaching and research; calls on the Union to provide itself with the means to become the world’s leading centre of research, to set common priorities for this purpose, and to concentrate all its efforts in a specific region located on the borders of several Member States, in order to create pan-European campuses and educational centres of excellence and to bring together all existing and future institutions involved in its common defence, which is an essential pillar of scientific research; | 14. Recalls that academic freedom and the autonomy of educational institutions are fundamental principles for well-functioning and resilient democracies; calls on the EU to protect academic freedom and the autonomy of educational institutions across the world; recalls that all EU investments in education must be guided by the key principles of equity and inclusion; welcomes the Commission proposal to increase the Erasmus+ budget by around 50 % for the period 2028-2034; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 14a. Calls for the European Parliament’s parliamentary diplomacy to be strengthened in order to build trust, develop closer ties and strengthen political dialogue with partner countries’ law-making bodies, thus strengthening the EU’s position as a global advocate for democracy, peace and human rights; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Advancing sustainable development to strengthen democracy |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 14b. Recalls that democracy is a cornerstone of sustainable development, as it ensures citizens’ participation, respect for human rights, the rule of law and good governance, which together contribute to the achievement of long-term human, social, economic and environmental development; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 14c. Underlines that democracy plays a fundamental role in achieving the SDGs, in particular SDG 10 on reducing inequalities without discrimination and SDG 16 on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels; stresses that the implementation of SDG 16 should be a priority across all development cooperation policies, recognising that peaceful, just and inclusive societies, underpinned by strong, transparent and accountable institutions, are fundamental prerequisites for sustainable development, the reduction of inequalities and the eradication of poverty; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 14d. Stresses that CSOs are actors of good governance and development, vital to the exercise of human rights, the rule of law, democracy, peace and stability in EU partner countries, and are key partners in designing, implementing and monitoring EU policies, programmes and projects across all priority areas of EU development cooperation; stresses that special attention should be given to women’s organisations, as gender equality is indispensable to ensure inclusive and resilient democracies; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 14e. Calls for the EU to continue promoting a safe and enabling environment for civil society actors and supporting human rights defenders, in line with the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2027; recalls that democracy support, in particular through support for civil society, should be mainstreamed into all NDICI–Global Europe programmes; also recalls that, although the Thematic Programme for CSOs is the only NDICI-Global Europe programme with a clear actor-based mandate aimed at strengthening CSOs as independent actors of good governance and development in their own right, it should be implemented in full complementarity with geographic and other thematic programmes; invites the Commission and the EU delegations to deepen engagement with, and enhance support for, independent and pluralistic civil society, in particular grassroots CSOs; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 14f. Encourages the EU to deepen its commitment to addressing the shrinking civic space and to fostering an enabling environment for civil society, as envisaged in the CSO Thematic Programme, through reinforced policy commitments and by taking significant steps both globally and in partner countries; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 14g. Calls on the EU institutions and the Member States to strengthen coordination efforts to address global needs for democracy support, in order to maximise the impact of their actions at a time of decreasing development budgets across the EU and global aid cuts; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 14h. Calls for the EU to collaborate with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other multilateral and regional development banks and institutions to promote good governance, accountability and transparency, thereby strengthening the framework for effectively promoting human rights and democracy; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 14i. Calls for a strong democracy and human rights dimension to be reflected in the next Global Europe instrument, as is the case under the current NDICI-Global Europe; regrets that the Commission proposal lacks a specific thematic programme and spending targets; advocates for democracy to be recognised as a strategic asset in the next Global Europe instrument, as it underpins all of the EU’s interests, including security, trade, migration and climate; stresses that undermining democracy support poses risks to all other external objectives and gives destabilising actors the opportunity to fill the void; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 14j. Calls strongly for democracy, together with the rule of law, human rights and sustainable development, to be embedded as a cornerstone of all Global Gateway projects, in line with the EU strategy’s core principles of democratic values and good governance; |
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 14k. Underlines the need to mainstream human rights, gender equality and democratic governance throughout EU external action; calls on the Commission to continue its technical and financial support for women- and youth-led organisations to increase their participation in democratic processes, in line with the YAP and the GAP III; |
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- Licensed CC BY 4.0.
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Cite as
European Parliament (2025). “DRAFT OPINION on the EU strategy to face the new theories against democracy”. Text, 4 December 2025. docId DEVE-PA-781231. EU Parl Watch Research. https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/DEVE-PA-781231 (retrieved 25 September 2026). Data: EP Open Data API: document record, https://data.europarl.europa.eu/api/v2/documents/DEVE-PA-781231 (CC BY 4.0).
BibTeX
@misc{epw-text-deve-pa-781231,
author = {{European Parliament}},
title = {{DRAFT OPINION on the EU strategy to face the new theories against democracy}},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-12-04},
howpublished = {\url{https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/DEVE-PA-781231}},
url = {https://news.eu-parl.st-solutions.dev/texts/DEVE-PA-781231},
urldate = {2026-09-25},
publisher = {EU Parl Watch Research},
note = {Text. docId DEVE-PA-781231. Data: EP Open Data API: document record (CC BY 4.0)}
}