From 25–27 March 2026, the transnational citizens’ panel “The Role of the EU in the World: Digital Development, Information Reliability and Democratic Participation” took place in Sofia, Bulgaria and was hosted by the European Information Centre (EIC). The panel brought together citizens from across the EU to reflect on the role of the European Union in the world, with a particular focus on digitalisation and misinformation.
The panel brought together 36 participants from 9 European countries who discussed key topics related to the impact of digital technologies on democracy, the challenges of disinformation, and the role of citizens in contemporary social processes.
The programme included interactive workshops, expert presentations, and small-group discussions focused on fake news as a threat to democratic societies. Participants visited the National Parliament of Bulgaria and took part in activities promoting active civic engagement. On the final day, best practices from non-governmental organizations were presented, and specific recommendations were formulated for European institutions on addressing disinformation and strengthening democratic resilience.
To read all the recommendations collected throughout Europe during Local and Transnational Citizens’ Panels, click here.
The EU for Global project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CERV. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
