„The space for civil society in Europe is under increasing pressure in the conditions of new geopolitical realities, external interference and increasing public polarization.“ This was stated by the Bulgarian MEP from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Christian Vigenin, during a discussion in the European Parliament within the framework of the project „Civic Champions“, dedicated to the role of civil society in the defense of democracy. The Bulgarian partner in the initiative is the Center for the Study of Democracy.
Vigenin stressed that the sustainability of democratic systems is not only an institutional issue, but also a security issue. “Europe must be ready to counter disinformation and foreign interference, but without undermining fundamental democratic principles: freedom of expression, access to information and pluralism“, he pointed out.
According to him, excessive restrictions in the name of security can backfire and weaken democracy itself. Vigenin emphasized the key role of non-governmental organizations, which are often on the front lines in identifying disinformation campaigns, building public trust and engaging citizens.
“The role of the civil sector must be officially recognized, more secure and clear support for its activities must be provided and its stigmatization through political narratives must be avoided“, the MEP believes.
The discussion also presented specific ideas for strengthening the protection of democratic processes, including the creation of an early warning mechanism that would connect information from the field with the institutional response of the European Union.
“Democracy cannot be built only from the top down. It requires active participation of society and strong independent organizations“, concluded Vigenin.
To contact the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EP: https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/