Date/Time
Date(s) - 01/06/2026
11:00 - 12:30
Location
Press Club Brussels Europe
Categories
PRESS INVITATION
Official launch of Democracy27, a new initiative chaired by former European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová
aimed at renewing democracy across the European Union ahead of the 2027 European elections.
At a time when the EU is stepping up efforts to counter foreign information manipulation and hybrid threats, Democracy27 will examine the resilience of Europe’s own democracies. Against a backdrop of declining trust in institutions, rising disinformation and growing political disillusionment, particularly among younger Europeans, the initiative seeks to explore how democratic systems can better respond to citizens’ concerns.
Through a series of country visits across Europe, the task force will conduct on-the-ground research into democratic health, engaging voices from across the political spectrum alongside civil society and citizens in countries reflecting different democratic trajectories.
Commissioned by a consortium of democracy organisations to help place democracy firmly on the European agenda, Democracy27 will culminate in a major report on the state of democracy in the EU, alongside recommendations for democratic renewal across Europe and its member states.
The discussion will be moderated by Sébastien Brack, Democracy27 Project Director and Representative to the European Union for the Kofi Annan Foundation.
Task force members available for comment on-site include:
- Věra Jourová, Chair of the task force; former European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency
- Leo Varadkar, Vice-chair of the task force; former Taoiseach of Ireland
- Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, Vice-chair of the task force; former French Minister of Education
- Emily O’Reilly, Good governance lead; former European Ombudsman and current Open Government Partnership Ambassador
- Luca Piwodda, Young political leadership lead; Mayor of Gartz, Germany
- Priscillia Ludosky, Social movements lead; co-initiator of the Gilets Jaunes movement
- Madeleine de Cock Buning, Disinformation and digital regulation lead; Professor at Utrecht University and the European University Institute; Chair of EDMO’s Advisory Council
- David van Reybrouck, Deliberation and sortition lead; Philosopher Laureate of The Netherlands and Flanders; author of Against Elections
Additional task force members include (not available for comment):
- Oliver Röpke, Union and economic democracy lead; former President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Director at the International Labour Organization (ILO) Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV)
- Arancha González Laya, International cooperation lead; Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs, Sciences Po; former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain
- Admiral (ret.) Robert Bauer, Security lead; former Chair of the NATO Military Committee and former Chief of Defence of the Netherlands
- Ivan Krastev, European politics and citizen participation lead; Chair of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia
- Thomas Leysen, Business and media pluralism lead; Entrepreneur and Chairman of Umicore, Mediahuis and Pluralis
- Daniel Sachs, Philanthropy and advocacy lead; Vice Chair of the Open Society Foundations
- Mabel van Oranje, Social change entrepreneurship lead; Founder and Board Chair Emeritus of Girls Not Brides and Vow for Girls, and advisor to The Elders
- Michał Boni, Tech and democracy lead; former Polish Minister of Digitisation and Member of the European Parliament
Light refreshments will be provided.
For additional information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Nikkie Shike: +32 475 75 51 06, nikkie.shike@edelman.com; OR
Benjamin Maris: +32 494 56 56 85, benjamin.maris@edelman.com