Democracy Alive 2025: The Brussels Summit

Recently, digital technologies, and digital platforms in particular, have sparked unprecedented controversy over their potential impact on democracy and inclusion. From state and non-state actors using digital tools to influence elections, to leading tech entrepreneurs openly challenging EU regulations and attempting to influence European election campaigns. The challenges and opportunities presented by these technologies are both complex and far-reaching. Addressing these challenges is essential to safeguarding the core values of our democracy.

The Democracy Alive Summit, organised by the European Movement International (EMI), will gather political leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, social partners, NGOs and organised civil society to explore the intersection of digital technologies and democracy—and the profound implications for the EU’s fundamental values.

The Summit will feature three panel discussions and a cross-party discussion between Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) throughout the day. We are also delighted that the Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, will join us for a keynote speech followed by a Q&A session. Topics will include the ongoing debate on regulation versus deregulation of digital platforms, strategies to combat disinformation and foreign interference, and how digital technologies and social platforms can be better adapted, developed and designed to be rooted in the EU's fundamental values and thus used as tools to strengthen democracy.