Where the law stands, Dossier 2025/2069(INI)
Findings and recommendations of the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield
Own-initiative report (INI): Parliament’s own position on a topic. It is not binding. · First reading
Parliament sets out its own position on a topic. The resolution is not binding but signals what Parliament wants.
Where it stands
Parliament’s position
Parliament adopted the text on 15 September 2026. This is its final position on the matter.
- Referred to committee(done) 3 April 2025
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 23 June 2026
- Tabled for plenary(done) 25 August 2026
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 15 September 2026
- Parliament’s position(done) Final
Decided in plenary
15 September 2026 · decision 10
Digital, AI & data, Resolution
Findings and recommendations of the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield
Adopted 420 for · 220 against · 26 abstained by a large majority
AI summary:By adopting the text, Parliament made it its official position, meaning it now states where it stands on the threats described and on the reforms it says are needed.
What changed
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament
AI summary:The text adds a new condemnation of third-country interference in certain outermost regions and overseas countries and territories. It adds that information manipulation operations have been detected against three candidates for France's 2027 presidential election and attributed to Russia. It changes the number of EU sanctions packages imposed since 2022 from 20 to 21. It shifts the call to assess legal gaps in Europol and Eurojust mandates from the Commission to co-legislators and from a planned to an ongoing revision. The other changes are formal: decimal separators, punctuation and a spelling correction.
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary
AI summary:The new version adds many recitals and calls on the Centre's governance, funding and mandate, including Member State and Parliament representation and a feasibility assessment on administering EU funding. It adds measures on platform recommender systems, account verification, AI labelling, advertising transparency, Telegram, influencers and user safeguards, and on public service media, spyware, media ranking and online advertising. It adds provisions on digital dependencies, critical raw materials, hack-for-hire, secure communications, GPS jamming, submarine cables, maritime hubs and cybersecurity, and on cooperation with Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, EU Delegations and CSDP missions. It adds provisions on preparedness reporting, crisis-alert apps, household booklets, exercises, Erasmus+, funding, institutional security, Frontex's mandate, crypto-asset political donations and the rule of law report. The other changes are formal: updated citations and cross-references.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- European Democracy Shield (special committee)
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Tomas Tobé (EPP)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Ana Catarina Mendes (S&D), Jaroslav Bžoch (Patriots), Beata Szydło (ECR), Helmut Brandstätter (Renew), Kim van Sparrentak (Greens), Danilo Della Valle (The Left), Christine Anderson (ESN)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 15 Sept 2026
AI summary:Parliament's resolution responds to the joint communication on the European Democracy Shield and sets out what the EU should do to protect democracy against foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), hybrid attacks and disinformation.
Tabled for plenary· 25 Aug 2026
AI summary:Parliament's resolution sets out the findings and recommendations of its Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield, responding to the Commission and High Representative joint communication of 12 November 2025.
Committee draft· 18 Dec 2025
AI summary:This is the rapporteur's draft report on the findings and recommendations of Parliament's Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield. It welcomes the joint communication setting up the Shield and calls for a European Centre for Democratic Resilience with a clear mandate, budget and legal basis by Q1 2027.
Timeline
Newest first.
Plenary stage 4 steps
15 September 2026
Plenary vote
Sitting of 15 Sept 2026 Report A10-0199/2026Adopted text TA10-0286/2026
15 September 2026
Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
8 September – 9 September 2026
95 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
Amendments 1–9Amendment 10Amendments 11–19Amendments 20–26Amendments 27–36Amendments 37–46Amendments 47–55Amendments 56–57Amendments 58–67Amendments 68–73Amendments 74–83Amendments 84–85Amendment 86Amendments 87–95
25 August 2026
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 4 steps
23 June 2026
Committee vote: report adopted
EUDS (European Democracy Shield (special committee)) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
12 February 2026
Amendments tabled in committee (6 batches)
Members of EUDS (European Democracy Shield (special committee)) proposed changes to the draft.
Amendments in committee (EUDS)Amendments in committee (EUDS)Amendments in committee (EUDS)Amendments in committee (EUDS)Amendments in committee (EUDS)Amendments in committee (EUDS)
18 December 2025
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in EUDS (European Democracy Shield (special committee)). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
3 April 2025
Referred to the EUDS (European Democracy Shield (special committee)) committee
The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2025/2069(INI)