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DRAFT REPORT (2025/2050(INI))

On the EU strategy to face the new theories against democracy

AFET-PR-774238

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Bernard Guetta

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 25 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

A draft report by the Committee on Foreign Affairs calls for an EU strategy to defend democracy against new theories that reject it, including the Neo-Reaction school of thought in the United States and Russian regime ideologues. It asks the EU to extend its influence, enlarge its ranks, build a 'democratic entente' with like-minded third countries, and strengthen democratic requirements in agreements with candidate countries. It calls for co-development with Africa, a multilingual 'Voice of Europe' broadcaster, and stronger support for independent media beyond EU borders. It proposes harmonising national election timetables, capping election spending, limiting media group size, and applying Digital Services Act rules to social media. It suggests renaming the European Council the 'Chamber of States' and Parliament the 'Chamber of the Union', and exploring attaching the European External Action Service to the European Council. It calls for a social market economy, an end to obstructing industrial consolidation and public aid for strategic companies, and making the EU a leading research centre with pan-European campuses.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament call for an EU strategy to defend democracy against new theories rejecting it, including extending EU influence, forming a 'democratic entente', promoting co-development with Africa, creating a 'Voice of Europe' broadcaster, harmonising election timetables, capping election spending, limiting media groups, and renaming EU institutions.

Key points

  1. Calls on the EU to extend its influence to other continents, enlarge its ranks, develop trade with Asia, Africa and Latin America on sustainable development, invest in research, and accelerate common defence and industrial consolidation.
  2. Calls on the EU and member states to work towards a bloc of countries rejecting unequal relations with China, the United States or both, to establish a new diplomatic and commercial balance of power.
  3. Calls on the EU to form a 'democratic entente' with third countries sharing universal values of democracy, noting the 'coalition of the willing' paves the way.
  4. Calls on the Union not to wait for accession negotiations to end before strengthening democratic requirements in bilateral agreements with candidate countries, so they can assert themselves as a single democratic bloc.
  5. Calls on the Union to promote co-development with African states and the African Union, noting Africa's population will reach two and a half billion by 2050 and shared languages will facilitate this.
  6. Calls on the Union to set up a multilingual radio station, website and television channel named 'The Voice of Europe', and to strengthen support for independent media and journalism beyond EU borders.
  7. Regrets the EU is perceived as a bureaucracy lacking democratic legitimacy; considers member states should elect national leaders at the same time and for equal terms, implemented in phases.
  8. Stresses the need for a strict cap on national and European election spending, and preservation of politically neutral public broadcasters in each member state.
  9. Urges the Union and member states to impose stricter limits on media group size and make social media subject to the same rules, prohibitions and sanctions as print and broadcast media.
  10. Proposes future treaties rename the European Council the 'Chamber of States' and Parliament the 'Chamber of the Union'; suggests exploring attaching the European External Action Service to the European Council.
  11. Stresses EU economic debates should focus on a market economy respecting social equity and the environment, with public authorities as arbitrator, to affirm the EU's identity as a social democracy.
  12. Expects the Union to stop obstructing industrial consolidation and public aid for strategic companies; calls for the EU to become the world's leading research centre with pan-European campuses and educational centres of excellence.

Who is affected

  • EU institutions and member states, called on to extend influence, enlarge ranks, and strengthen democratic requirements.
  • Third countries sharing democratic values, invited to form a 'democratic entente' with the EU.
  • African states and the African Union, targeted for co-development with the EU.
  • Media groups and social media platforms, which would face stricter limits and the same rules as print and broadcast media.
  • Candidate countries, whose bilateral agreements with the EU would have strengthened democratic requirements.

Figures and deadlines

  • By 2050, Africa will have a population of two and a half billion people.
  • In just 50 years – less than a single lifetime – Western peoples have seen major upheavals.

Legal basis: Articles 2, 9, 10, 11 and 21 of the Treaty on European Union.