site.btaEP Office Head Sees Strengthening Democratic Resilience as Urgent

Speaking at the opening of the two-day international seminar titled "In defence of European values: The power of civil society", the head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Bulgaria, Teodor Stoychev, said here Monday that as European societies undergo profound geopolitical and technological changes, the question of how to strengthen democratic resilience and uphold shared values has never been more urgent.

He added that the event comes at a particularly important moment for Europe.

"Democracy does not weaken overnight. It is a gradual process driven by the erosion of trust, when citizens feel disconnected from institutions, when facts become increasingly difficult to verify, when independent journalism comes under pressure, and when people begin to doubt that their voices matter," he said.

In this context, disinformation, foreign interference and an increasingly polarized public debate are not isolated phenomena, Stoychev said. They intensify during periods of uncertainty and social fragmentation and are amplified by today's rapidly evolving information environment, where false narratives spread faster and further than ever before.

To counter these trends and strengthen democratic resilience, Europe needs active civic participation, dialogue, education and strong partnerships with civil society, he added.

The seminar is being held at Sofia University and is organized by the Bulgarian Economic and Social Council, the European Parliament Liaison Office in Bulgaria and the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria.