The question of how to strengthen democratic resilience is gaining new prominence in the EU policy debate. The European Democracy Shield and the new European Centre for Democratic Resilience have given fresh momentum to this discussion. The focus is not solely on countering disinformation, foreign interference and other threats. It is also about strengthening democracy from within. This holistic approach means (re)building trust, greater participation, thriving civic space and strong democratic capacity across all levels of governance. It also means creating stronger links between EU institutions, Member States, local governments, civil society and researchers.

The conference will contribute to that debate from a practical and multi-actor perspective. We will explore what democratic resilience requires at the local, national and European levels, and how these levels can complement one another. It will examine the role of civil society and research, and the role of democratic infrastructures such as Nets4Dem in connecting actors, knowledge, and practice. Through examples from cities and local actors, the programme will show how democratic resilience is being built and practised on the ground. We will also identify the conditions needed to make this work stronger, more connected and more sustainable across Europe.

The conference will conclude with the Nets4Dem Democratic Innovation Awards ceremony. The Awards will recognise the most impactful and inclusive participatory projects developed by cities and civil society organisations with support from Nets4Dem.