European Democracy Shield

Shielding Democracy

As foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) increasingly threaten democratic societies, strengthening Germany’s and Europe’s resilience has become a strategic priority. While the European Democracy Shield provides an ambitious framework to counter these challenges, policymakers now face the task of translating this vision into effective action.

This report examines how Taiwan and Japan, two democracies with extensive experience in countering sustained information manipulation, have developed innovative approaches to protect their open societies while safeguarding freedom of expression. It distils practical lessons that can help Germany and the European Union strengthen their own democratic resilience.

From whole-of-society preparedness and strategic communications to media literacy, fact-checking, and international cooperation, the report identifies concrete policy measures that can reinforce Germany’s and Europe’s response to hybrid threats. It argues that democratic resilience cannot be built through regulation alone, but requires coordinated action across governments, civil society, the private sector, and international partners.