Recap: Brussels Democracy Dialogue 2026

Across Europe, illiberal forces use new technologies to threaten democracy. Attacks on the judiciary, minority rights and electoral fairness increasingly involve the misuse of artificial intelligence, from AI-driven disinformation and deepfakes to automated propaganda and micro-targeted political manipulation. These tactics erode trust, create division and weaken the social foundations of our democratic life.

Progressive Resilience: How to strengthen European Democracies

New ideas, more imagination and better networks are needed to safeguard our social and liberal European way of life, whether through mobilisation in the streets, elections, political communication or the use of emerging technologies.

On 13-14 October 2026, experts from politics, trade unions, academia and civil society gathered at the FES EU Office to discuss how to counter these attacks with comprehensive, progressive strategies.

The first session featured an input from Cas Mudde (University of Georgia) with commentary by Gösta Brunnander (Swedish Social Democratic Party). Theyexplored how progressives can better spread their messages using (new) technologies, which issues require prioritisation, and how to communicate complex economic and democracy-related topics more effectively to the public.

Under the title “Making democracies more resilient”, Maya Tudor (University of Oxford) and Birgit Sippel, MEP, addressed proactive measures to strengthen and revitalise democracies against the threat of illiberal forces. These include policies that strengthen citizens’ understanding of and support for liberal democracy, new forms of citizen participation, and institutional reforms that reinforce the independence of democratic institutions. 

The next day opened with a session on countries with illiberal forces at the helm of government and how democratic decline can be slowed down, halted, and ideally reversed under these conditions. Nic Cheeseman (University of Birmingham), Yüksel Taşkın (MP, Türkiye) and Krzysztof Śmiszek, MEP, discussed how attacks can be recognised early on and how citizens can be effectively mobilised, both online and in the streets, to defend democratic institutions.

The final panel addressed artificial intelligence, which is rapidly reshaping the political landscape. While far-right actors increasingly use AI to spread disinformation, manipulate public opinion, and undermine democratic processes, the same technologies also hold significant potential to strengthen democratic systems. Paul Nemitz (College of Europe) discussed these two sides of the same coin with Heike Raab (Committee of the Regions).

Key takeaways

1. Democratic resilience cannot be a one-off response. Threats to democracy can take different forms and require carefully tailored responses. Progressive actors therefore need comprehensive strategies to defend democracy, starting with understanding the kind of threat they are facing rather than fighting individual attacks one at a time.

2. Political messages matter more than technology. Given the success of far-right actors on social media, progressives are understandably looking at how they can compete online. But digital reach alone is not enough. Trust, a clear message and a positive agenda have to come first.

3. Resilience must be built up before a crisis hits. By the time democratic institutions are being dismantled and citizens mobilise in response, considerable damage has already been done. A strong civil society needs stable resources and networks before democratic erosion reaches a crisis point.

4. Regulating AI is no longer enough. With AI already being used by the far right to produce political content on large scale and Big Tech holding considerable influence over how these technologies develop, the EU cannot rely on laws alone. It needs to engage, experiment and build democratic alternatives over the long term.

5. Democracy has to deliver in everyday life. People experience whether a democratic system works through their homes, workplaces, communities and public services. Trust cannot simply be demanded, it is earned through policies that improve quality of life and effective forms of participation.