The recording of the panel discussion titled “European Responses to the Shrinking Spaces of Democracy” organized on January 20, 2026 is now available on AUTHLIB’s YouTube channel.
Across the European Union, illiberal actors are gaining influence and systematically challenge the institutional and normative foundations of liberal democracy from within. When such actors come to power, they often target key democratic pillars: media freedom and pluralism, civil society and freedom of association, and—amid intensifying culture-war dynamics—gender equality and minority rights. These pressures do not emerge in isolation: they are embedded in broader political, institutional, and societal vulnerabilities that weaken democratic resilience in some of the EU’s most vulnerable member states.
What are the most serious threats illiberal forces pose to media freedom, civil society, and gender equality and rights within the EU? What democratic guardrails and instruments exist at the EU and national levels, and how resilient are they in practice? What developments over the next 1–3 years require close monitoring and rapid response? Where are the most viable points of intervention to strengthen democratic resilience and limit the impact of illiberal actors?
This panel presented fresh insights from the Neo-authoritarianism in Europe and the Liberal Democratic Response (AUTHLIB) project and reflected on how illiberal challenges manifest across critical policy areas inside the EU. Focusing on media freedom, civil society, and gender equality and rights, the discussion sought to identify priority areas for policy action and coordination to strengthen democratic resilience and protect shrinking democratic spaces across Europe.
🎙️ Speakers:
Konrad Bleyer-Simon, Research Fellow, Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom, European University Institute
Dániel Hegedűs, Regional Director, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Mila Moshelova, Postdoctoral Researcher, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski
🎙️ Chair: Zsuzsanna Végh, Program Officer, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
📒 The policy papers discussed are available HERE.
🇪🇺 This event took place in the framework of the “AUTHLIB – Neo-authoritarianisms in Europe and the Liberal Democratic Response” project.
