Local leaders step up efforts to better protect citizens and democracy

Cities and regions set out positions on boosting democratic resilience, securing the digital sphere, and countering terrorism.

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has adopted a series of recommendations that aim to help protect local democracy, curb the rising number of cyber-attacks on local and regional authorities, and support efforts to protect public spaces and prevent radicalisation.

The recommendations - contained in opinions on the European Democracy Shield, on the EU's Cybersecurity Review and the Digital Networks Act, and on the EU's contribution to preventing and countering terrorism - were adopted at the CoR's plenary session on 13-14 October.

European Democracy Shield

In their response to the 'European Democracy Shield', a broad set of proposals of the European Commission to foster, protect and strengthen democracy within the EU -CoR members highlighted both the importance of local democracy to the health of European political and democratic life and the increasing personal risks faced by local politicians.

The opinion, which was drafted by Stephen De Ron (LU/Greens and Progressives), underscores the contribution that local and regional authorities can make to safeguarding democratic processes across the EU, protecting against disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference, harnessing digital and AI technologies responsibly, and strengthening civic engagement.

The CoR's specific proposals identify how their contribution can be capitalised on in collaboration with national governments and the EU, including through involvement in relevant initiatives such as the newly established European Centre for Democratic Resilience.

The CoR calls for specific measures to protect politicians, and particularly female politicians, from threats and intimidation, support independent media, promote media and digital literacy, as well as civic and democracy education, and to increase civic engagement.

On the same day that the opinion was adopted, 13 October, the EU Member States, meetingin in the General Affairs Council, adopted conclusions recognising the "important role of local and regional authorities in bringing democratic processes closer to citizens", underlining the "importance of access to independent and pluralistic news media, including regional and local media", and emphasising "the fundamental role of cohesion and common policies at the Union level seeking to strengthen the bond between communities and society".

Cybersecurity Review and the Digital Networks Act

The EU is currently overhauling its legislative framework for digital networks and for cyber-security in a bid to promote more uniform rules across the EU, improve connectivity, and tighten security. The EU's objectives were endorsed by CoR members on 13 October when they adopted an opinion on the Cybersecurity Review and the Digital Networks Act. The opinion, which was drafted by Zdeněk Hřib (CZ/Greens and Progressives), member of Prague city council, underscores the significance of the legislation by pointing to the frequency of cyber-attacks on municipalities of all sizes and to the need to narrow the digital divide between urban and rural areas.

The opinion frames cybersecurity as a matter of public trust and democratic resilience, arguing that citizens need confidence that the public services on which they depend are protected. Many frontline services - including public transport, e-government platforms, and hospitals - are the responsibility of local and regional authorities.

Preparedness and resources vary significantly across Member States and local authorities, so, the CoR argues, new regulatory requirements should be accompanied by administrative and technical support, particularly for smaller authorities. Similarly, EU cybersecurity certification schemes should be accessible to local and regional authorities. The CoR voted to support EU-level investigations into major cyber incidents.

ProtectEU: Agenda to prevent and counter terrorism

CoR members also adopted a set of recommendations on one aspect of EU's integrated approach to internal security: counter-terrorism. The opinion - entitled 'ProtectEU: Agenda to prevent and counter terrorism' - stresses the need to involve cities and regions as main stakeholders to the strategy given their crucial role as first respondents to threats and acts of terrorisms, while their communities bear enormous burden in those challenges. Furthermore, the opinion focuses particularly on the security of public spaces and infrastructure and on the role of local and regional authorities in areas crucial to the prevention of radicalisation, such as education, social policy, culture, youth, and social inclusion.

The opinion emphasises that the terrorist threats within the EU are more dispersed than in the past, and identifies a changing geopolitical situation, an increased risk of radicalisation among the young, and greater use of the internet and new technologies as elements affecting the threat profile.

Quotes:

• Stephen De Ron (LU/Greens and Progressives), councillor of the municipality of Hesperange and rapporteur on the 'European Democracy Shield': "Democracy is something we practice every day: to disagree, to gather, to speak freely and to have a free press. If you care about something, you have to protect it. That is what the Democracy Shield is about: protecting participation, free media and checks and balances, while confronting disinformation, foreign interference and the risks of AI. This protection has to start where democracy is closest to people, in our cities and regions."
• Zdeněk Hřib (CZ/Greens), member of Prague City Council and rapporteur on 'Cybersecurity Review and Digital Networks Act': "Cybersecurity in Europe must be strengthened through effective governance, secure ICT supply chains, and resilient digital networks, but it must remain fully implementable for local and regional authorities operating critical infrastructure and essential services. Real resilience depends on proportionate, risk-based implementation backed by clear guidance, training, and capacity-building."
• Olgierd Geblewicz (PL/EPP), president of West Pomerania Region and rapporteur for 'ProtectEU: Agenda to prevent and counter terrorism': "Thе opinion addresses one of the fundamental responsibilities of public authorities: ensuring the safety and security of our citizens. The terrorist threat has not disappeared; it is evolving. We face online radicalisation, the exploitation of young people by extremist organisations, disinformation, sabotage and hybrid threats, including those inspired by hostile states. Russia's war against Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East remind us that Europe's security cannot be taken for granted. And Europe's security begins in our cities and regions, where our citizens live and where essential services and critical infrastructure are located."

More information:

• Photos and videos from the 173 Plenary Session

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Contacts:

Julia Damianova

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Andrew Gardner

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