In an increasingly challenging geopolitical environment, building resilience against disinformation, promoting critical thinking, and empowering civil society are essential to safeguarding European values. Undermining democracy will not make the European Union more competitive. This was the conclusion reached by participants at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) conference dedicated to civil society communicators.
“In Defense of European Values: The Power of Civil Society”was the theme of the Connecting EU seminar, organized by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in partnership with the Economic and Social Council of the Republic of Bulgaria. The event took place on July 6–7 in Sofia at the Auditorium of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” which co-organized the event.
The forum aimed to examine Europe’s ability to defend its core values amid shifting economic priorities, growing pressure on democratic trust, and the increasing importance of security and competitiveness on the EU’s agenda.
“Can Europe reconcile competitiveness with the social model that has long set it apart? Can European democracy withstand the growing pressure from foreign interference, disinformation, and populism? And if democracy is not a given, how can we defend it? Ultimately, democracy survives only if people believe that it can still improve their lives,” said EESC Vice-President for Communication Maria Hanzewacki at the opening of the seminar.
In a video message, EESC President Seamus Boland warned that “democracy weakens when citizens feel unheard, when public debate becomes polarized, and when civil society is pushed to the margins.” According to him, “the answer can never be less democracy. The answer must be more democracy—protecting independent media, safeguarding civic space, and supporting social and civic dialogue.”
Zornitsa Rusinova, Chair of the Economic and Social Council of Bulgaria and a member of the EESC, presented the work of the Council on Countering Disinformation during the debate on Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro, providing reliable information.
“When we have a good education and develop critical thinking skills, attempts at manipulation and disinformation become much more difficult. Today, people in Bulgaria and across Europe are most concerned about rising prices, climate change, and war, so they expect clear and practical solutions that address their daily lives. It is precisely through more reliable information, more dialogue, and more trust—which includes partnerships between different groups in society—that we can defend European values and show that Europe is close to its citizens,” said Zornitsa Rusinova.
Two of the vice-chairs of the consultative body representing employers, labor unions, and civil society organizations—Maria Mincheva and Bogomil Nikolov—attended the forum’s official opening. ESC members Veselin Mitov, Ina Agafonova, and Elitsa Barakova also participated in the seminar, as did Stoyan Chukanov, a member of the Bulgarian delegation to the EESC.
During the opening ceremony, Danail Rusev, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy, emphasized the importance of cooperation with the Economic and Social Council on issues such as the labor market, social inclusion, corporate social responsibility, and the social and solidarity economy.
Member of Parliament Stoyan Trichkov called for a return to open democratic debate and warned against the political misuse of the term “European values” to stifle legitimate criticism.
In his keynote address, the Brussels-based journalist and author of the book *The Owned Continent* Dave Keating focused on Europe’s deep dependence on the United States and on the excessive caution of European politicians and leaders of EU institutions regarding the strengthening of European independence, including in trade policy, in the face of American pressure
Competitiveness, Social Rights, and Sustainability
The first discussion, titled “Europe’s New Economic Compass: Balancing Competitiveness, Social Rights, and Sustainability,” began with a roundtable featuring the chairs and representatives of the three groups within the EESC.
“Ourcall has always been to eliminate ineffective regulation. It only complicates people’s lives; instead of doing their jobs, they are forced to fill out forms,” said Sandra Parti, Chair of the Employers’ Group at the EESC.
For his part, Florian Marin, the representative of the Workers’ Group, emphasized the need to rethink competitiveness so that it benefits society and the environment.
“To overlook the social dimension of competitiveness is a fundamental mistake. The market must serve society and contribute to its development, not the other way around. “, he said.
Killian Lohan, Chair of the Civil Society Organizations Group, emphasized that sustainability is the foundation of economic growth.
The other participants also agreed that Europe must become more competitive, but presented different views on how to achieve this. Some of them insisted that simplifying and reducing regulations are key to strengthening business and the economy, while others warned that improved economic indicators mask a declining standard of living, rising poverty, and instability in the housing market.
Ann Freel of ClientEarth supported the idea of better regulation, but warned that the current agenda for “simplification” actually weakens environmental and social standards, rather than simply reducing the administrative burden.
Democracy, Trust, and Resilience Against Disinformation
The second discussion— “Europe’s Democratic Compass: Can Trust and Resilience Be Restored?” — was preceded by the presentation of the report “Tackling TikTok-cracy in the Balkans: A Plan to Counter Algorithmic Manipulation in Europe” by Antoaneta Nikolova, director of the Balkan Free Media Initiative (BFMI).
The participants in the discussion emphasized that, due to declining trust in journalists and fact-checking organizations, it is no longer enough simply to debunk false information. It is necessary to promote media literacy so that citizens can critically evaluate the information they encounter on their own.
To counter well-organized disinformation campaigns, which sometimes have enormous resources at their disposal—including state funding— civil society must be much more mobilized.
The participants also noted that restoring the social contract on issues such as affordable housing and decent work reduces people’s vulnerability to populist messages.
Artificial Intelligence and Communication
On the second day of the seminar, participants took part in interactive sessions focused on the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) in communication, with a focus on its impact on the information environment and the growing role of AI agents.
David Grünewald, an AI strategist and trainer, has spoken out in support of using European AI models as a means of protecting European digital sovereignty and the European economy.
“The choice of European solutions in the field of artificial intelligence is not just a matter of efficiency. It is a matter of sovereignty, sustainability, and long-term economic implications “, he said.
The seminar program also included hands-on training on LinkedIn, designed to help participants build a stronger professional presence and personal brand.
