Citizens' Panel on Democratic Resilience

European democracies face growing pressures, from geopolitical tensions and rapid technological change to polarisation and declining public trust and engagement. Free and fair elections, freedom of expression, media, journalists and civil society are also increasingly under threat.

To address growing threats to democracy, the European Commission presented the European Democracy Shield in 2025, with concrete measures to empower, and strengthen democracy across the EU.

As part of this wider effort, 150 randomly selected citizens from all 27 EU Member States will come together to deliberate on the following key questions:

• How can we make our democracies stronger and more resilient, together? 
• Building on your own experience and on the European Democracy Shield, what should the EU do so that we can all take part in and shape the democracy we live in?

Democracy – government by and for the people – depends on citizens being able to take part meaningfully. Yet today's democracies face a range of pressures that can make people feel less informed, connected and heard.

In everyday language, democratic resilience means the ability of democracy – including its institutions, civil society, citizens and communities – to prepare for, withstand and recover from threats or crises, while keeping free elections, the rule of law, fundamental rights and people’s ability to take part in public life. 

Democratic resilience is not something governments or institutions can build alone. It also depends on citizens and communities. The European Citizens' Panel gives citizens from across the EU an opportunity to contribute to this shared effort by helping shape future European action on democratic resilience.