The European Commission today appointed Giorgos Rossides as Principal Adviser for relations with internal and external stakeholders at the Internal Audit Service (IAS). The IAS provides independent advice, opinions and recommendations on the quality and functioning of internal control systems inside the Commission, EU agencies and other autonomous bodies. The date of effect will be determined later.
With more than 20 years of experience at the European Commission, Mr Rossides has built extensive expertise across a wide range of policy areas, including data protection, security, home affairs, crisis management, and health. He has shown sound judgment and decisive leadership in crisis situations, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the successful delivery of major policy proposals such as the EU Vaccines Strategy and the European Health Union. Mr Rossides has demonstrated strong leadership skills throughout his career, managing large teams in complex and high-pressure settings, while ensuring the successful completion of demanding initiatives, including the reform of the EU pharmaceutical legislation and Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. He also brings extensive experience in engaging with internal and external stakeholders on a wide range of issues, including key files such as the next Multiannual Financial Framework. His extensive experience and deep understanding of the Commission’s political priorities make him well placed to bring valuable institutional insight to the IAS.
Giorgos Rossides, a Cypriot national, is currently a Senior Expert at the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG HERA). He previously served as Head of Cabinet to the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides. Before that, Mr Rossides was a Member of Cabinet for the European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs, Dimitris Avramopoulos, where he led work on the Security Union, counter-terrorism, and EU-US relations in the field of home affairs. He also served as Head of Sector for Communications at the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, coordinating with Commissioners’ Cabinets and the Spokesperson’s Service. Prior to joining the Commission, he gained valuable experience working at the United Nations.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Isabel Otero Barderas – Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25)
New EU initiatives to foster water resilience across Europe
The European Commission launched yesterday a series of Structured Water Dialogues at technical and political level with Member States, as part of the implementation of the European Water Resilience Strategy. Led by Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, and the relevant Ministers responsible for water management, these Dialogues will take place in each Member State between 2025 and 2027. They will allow the Commission to assist Member States in complying with country-specific recommendations to improve water management by 2027 as well as addressing water efficiency, in the face of water scarcity and flood events.
On the same day, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) selected the tenth Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) in the field of water, marine and maritime sectors and ecosystems. The KIC will develop an integrated approach in line with the source-to-sea approach of the European Water Resilience Strategy and European Ocean Pact to restore and protect the water cycle. Building on the EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’ and relevant Horizon Europe partnerships, it will support education, skills, deployment and commercialisation of innovation.
Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, said: ‘A healthy ocean and resilient freshwater systems are two sides of the same coin. EIT Water will help us bridge the gap between blue and green innovation by empowering local communities, businesses, and researchers. Supporting the delivery of the European Ocean Pact, it will contribute to restoring ecosystems, protecting marine life and securing a sustainable future for Europe’s water and maritime sectors.’
Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, said: ‘We know what water challenges we are facing across Europe, but now is the time to listen and engage with each other to solve them. The Structured Dialogues and the tenth Knowledge and Innovation Community will both support the work to find innovative and sustainable solutions to ensure Europe’s water resilience and play an important role in implementing the Water Resilience Strategy.’
You can find more information on the water dialogues and the tenth Knowledge and Innovation Community for water innovation online.
(For more information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: +32 2 296 64 83; Eva Hrncirova – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Thomas Regnier – Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Nika Blazevic – Tel. + 32 2 299 27 17) Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73; Eirini Zarkadoula – Tel.: +32 460 76 57 13)
Commission seeks views on strengthening EU product safety and market rules
The European Commission is seeking views on two major initiatives to reinforce the EU framework ensuring that all products on the Single Market are safe and fit for an increasingly digital and circular economy.
Millions of products circulate daily across the EU, from toys and electronics to machinery and medical devices. The EU’s long-standing product safety system, symbolised by the CE mark, has made Europe a global leader in consumer protection. However, digitalisation, e-commerce and the rise of refurbished goods call for modernised rules.
The first initiative concerns the revision of the New Legislative Framework, which sets out the principles for market access, CE marking and conformity assessment. A recent evaluation identified challenges such as complex documentation, unclear treatment of refurbished products and inconsistent conformity checks. The review aims to simplify rules, reduce administrative burdens and improve coherence across sectors, thus strengthening consumer safety, sustainability, and fair competition.
In parallel, the Commission is seeking views on the Market Surveillance Regulation to assess how effectively it helps authorities and customs enforce EU product rules. It will also examine ways to boost coordination and enforcement against unsafe or non-compliant products.
Both initiatives will run until 4 February 2026 and underpin the forthcoming European Product Act, scheduled for adoption in Q3 2026. All stakeholders are invited to share their views online.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Rya Perincek – Tel: +32 460 76 25 10)
Rules to ease the rollout of better connectivity networks enter into effect
The Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA) enters into effect today, aiming to make fast and advanced connectivity widely available across the EU by tackling persisting challenges that operators encounter when setting up infrastructure. The act further aims to reduce costs and complexities in the deployment of fibre and 5G networks in the EU.
These future-proof networks are needed to support the innovative services rapidly developing with the use of artificial intelligence and cloud computing among others.
The act focuses on simplifying complex procedures and making telecom network expansion faster. Key features include more infrastructure sharing and better coordination of civil works among operators, as well as enabling network installation together with other public works. Other important aspects of the new rules include: digitalising procedures for permits to install infrastructure, making available information on existing physical infrastructure and planned civil works. GIA also leverages the building renovation wave by equipping new structures and those undergoing major renovation with fibre-ready in-building physical infrastructure and fibre wiring.
The Gigabit Infrastructure Act generally applies as of today in the EU Member States, except for some provisions that will apply in a few months’ time. The Commission is working closely with Member States and The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) on the application of these new rules.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Patricia Poropat – Tel.: +32 2 298 04 85)
European Democracy Shield and EU Strategy for Civil Society pave the way for stronger and more resilient democracies
The Commission has presented today the European Democracy Shield, setting out a series of concrete measures to empower, protect, and promote strong and resilient democracies across the EU. An open civic space is at the core of our democracies, and this is why the Commission has also put forward an EU Strategy for Civil Society, for stronger engagement, protection and support to civil society organisations who play essential roles in our societies. Both initiatives had been outlined in the political guidelines and this year’s State of the Union address by President von der Leyen.
The European Democracy Shield and the EU Strategy for Civil Society present measures to protect the key pillars of our democratic systems: free people, free and fair elections, free and independent media, a vibrant civil society and strong democratic institutions.
President von der Leyen said: ‘Democracy is the foundation of our freedom, prosperity, and security. The European Democracy Shield will reinforce the core elements that allow citizens to live our shared democratic values every day – free speech, independent media, resilient institutions, and a vibrant civil society. This is Europe’s strength and we must increase our collective capacity to protect it at all times.’
European Democracy Shield
The actions under the European Democracy Shield will further boost our collective capacity to counter information manipulation and disinformation and strengthen our resilience through a whole-of-society approach. The European Democracy Shield will present actions across three main pillars: 1) safeguarding the integrity of the information space; 2) strengthening our institutions, fair and free elections, and free and independent media; and 3) boosting societal resilience and citizens’ engagement.
An important deliverable from the European Democracy Shield will be a new European Centre for Democratic Resilience to bring together EU and Member States’ expertise and resources to increase our collective capacity to anticipate, detect and respond to threats and build democratic resilience. With Member States at its core, the Centre will act as a framework to facilitate information sharing and support capacity building to withstand evolving common threats, in particular foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) and disinformation.
Supported by and in close coordination with the Rapid Alert System run by the European External Action Service, the Centre will link together existing networks and structures.
A Stakeholder Platform will be established within the Centre to facilitate dialogue with trusted stakeholders such as civil society organisations, researchers and academia, fact-checkers and media providers.
Safeguarding the integrity of the information space
Strengthening the integrity of the information space is essential for people to exercise their rights and engage in democracy. The Commission will further work with signatories under the Code of Conduct on Disinformation and prepare a Digital Services Act incidents and crisis protocol to facilitate coordination among relevant authorities and ensure swift reactions to large-scale and potentially transnational information operations. An independent European Network of Fact-Checkers will be set up to boost fact-checking capacity in all EU official languages and the European Digital Media Observatory will develop new independent monitoring and analytical capabilities for situational awareness on elections or in situations of crises.
Strengthening our institutions, fair and free elections, and free and independent media
While the organisation and conduct of elections are the competence of the Member States, strengthened cooperation at EU level is necessary to address common challenges in this field. The Commission will therefore reinforce the work under the European Cooperation Network on Elections, organising systematic exchanges on key topics for the integrity of electoral processes. The Commission will also present a guidance on the responsible use of AI in electoral processes and update the Digital Services Act (DSA) Elections Toolkit
To help address growing violence against political candidates and elected representatives, the Commission will present a Recommendation and a guide of best practices in the Member States on the safety of political actors.
Reinforced financial support for independent and local journalism will be provided under the new Media Resilience Programme, which will bridge current support to media with funding programmes proposed in the new Multiannual Financial Framework. In the upcoming review of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, the Commission will assess ways to strengthen the prominence of media services of general interest and modernise advertising rules to foster the sustainability of EU media.
The Commission will present an update of the Commission’s Recommendation on the Safety of Journalists and will step up action to support the EU’s existing framework to combat abusive lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).
Boosting societal resilience and citizens’ engagement
To help recognise and counter information manipulation, the Commission will roll out measures to foster media and digital literacy for all ages. The Commission will develop an EU citizenship competence framework along with guidelines to strengthen citizenship education in schools.
It will also support citizens’ engagement in democratic life through participatory and consultative tools, with a focus on local levels and youth, and it will stimulate innovation in online platforms that enable participation in democracy via a new civic tech hub. To promote awareness of citizens’ democratic rights under EU law, the Commission will present an EU democracy guide.
The Commission will also help further promote evidence-based decision-making, including through the adoption of a Recommendation on supporting scientific evidence in policymaking.
The EU Strategy for Civil Society
Civil society plays an essential role in our societies contributing to policymaking, delivering social and community services, raising awareness about important social issues, and representing diverse groups in vulnerable situations.
With the EU Strategy for Civil Society, the Commission is stepping up its engagement with civil society, and will further support and protect civil society organisations in their work. The Strategy proposes concrete actions at EU and national level.
The strategy covers three key objectives:
Fostering engagement: A new Civil Society Platform will be established by 2026 to further facilitate dialogue on the protection and promotion of EU values.
Support and protection: An online Knowledge Hub on Civic Space will be created to facilitate access to existing projects and tools, including available protection measures. On this basis, further protection measures will be explored, such as urgent assistance to organisations under threat, and coordination of available protection measures in Member States.
Sustainable and transparent funding: In its proposal for the new MFF, the Commission has proposed to significantly increase the financial support to CSOs, with pound 9 billion foreseen for the AgoraEU programme alone. In addition, the Commission is planning measures to facilitate access to different funding sources, creating stronger links with private donors and pro bono legal communities.
Background
In an age of growing political confrontation, regional and international conflicts and rapid technological disruption, our democracies face internal and external pressures. Authoritarian regimes seek to exploit divisions, sow mistrust, and restrict democratic actors such as free media and civil society. In doing so, they erode trust in democratic institutions, undermine free and fair elections and challenge the very values on which the European Union is founded. These threats unfold against the backdrop of a deep digital transformation that brings both new opportunities and new vulnerabilities. At the same time, declining public trust and engagement, along with unprecedented risks faced by civil society organisations, further endanger the promotion of fundamental rights across the EU.
With the European Democracy Shield and the EU Strategy for Civil Society, the Commission aims to strengthen actions at both EU and national level, working closely with enlargement countries and fostering greater coherence between the EU’s internal and external activities in these areas.
Through the European Democracy Shield, the Commission will step up its work to combat foreign information manipulation and interference beyond our borders. Capabilities in EU Representations and Delegations abroad will be reinforced and partnerships will be leveraged for collective responses against foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).
Through the Strategy, the EU will continue to support civic space and an enabling environment for civil society worldwide. This will include strengthening engagement with civil society across EU external action and via the EU Delegations.
For more information
Communication on the European Democracy Shield
EU Strategy for Civil Society
Special Eurobarometer 568 ‘Protecting and promoting democracy’
Factsheet on European Democracy Shield
Factsheet on the EU Strategy for Civil Society
A thriving civic space to protect fundamental rights – European Commission
Democracy and electoral rights
Media freedom and pluralism | Shaping Europe’s digital future
Quote(s)
Democracy is the foundation of our freedom, prosperity, and security. The European Democracy Shield will reinforce the core elements that allow citizens to live our shared democratic values every day – free speech, independent media, resilient institutions, and a vibrant civil society. This is Europe’s strength and we must increase our collective capacity to protect it at all times.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Europe stands stronger than ever to defend its foundations and democratic values. Citizens are the heartbeat of our democracies. Our proposals are about more than defence – they are about empowerment. We want every citizen, every association, every voice to know that Europe stands with them. A confident, open, and resilient democracy is the best answer to those who seek to divide or weaken us.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
Liberal democracy is under attack. We see campaigns – including by Russia – specifically designed to polarize our citizens, undermine trust in our institutions and pollute politics in our countries. The new European Democracy Shield is part of Europe’s response to protect the ingredients of our democracies: free media, fact-based debate and fair elections. If we want democracy to prevail, we have to defend it better.
Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission
Defending democracy is our first line of defence against rising political confrontation, regional and global conflicts, and rapid technological disruption. Democracy is not a destination, but a daily commitment – one that demands constant strengthening and renewal. The Democracy Package will serve as our roadmap to confront the evolving challenges our democracies face, and to support all those who uphold them. Ultimately, democracy is only as strong as the people who believe in it. We must continue working together to protect and promote it for generations to come.
Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection
Commission launches new Culture Compass for Europe
Today, the European Commission presented its vision for a vibrant and integrated European cultural landscape with the launch of the Culture Compass for Europe. This forward-looking framework is designed to shape EU cultural policy, to ensure that culture plays a central role in fostering European identity, celebrating diversity, and promoting excellence.
In times of uncertainty and change, culture strengthens our democracy, social cohesion, competitiveness and resilience. This chimes with the latest Eurobarometer on Culture that shows that 87% of respondents believe that culture and cultural heritage should have a very important place in the Union, so that citizens feel more European.
Europe for Culture, Culture for Europe
In response, the Compass aims to leverage the benefits of culture, notably by promoting Europe’s cultural assets, as well as addressing the major hurdles hindering the cultural and creative industries. These include restrictions on artistic expression, the precarious livelihoods of artists, unequal opportunities for cultural participation, and the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the sectors.
The Culture Compass will guide EU policies in four key directions, for an EU that: upholds and strengthens European values and cultural rights; empowers artist and cultural professionals, and supports people; draws on culture and cultural heritage to become more competitive, resilient and cohesive; and champions international cultural relations and partnerships.
The Compass’ ambitions and political ownership will be underpinned by a proposal from the Commission to the European Parliament and Council for a draft Joint Declaration between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission. A new report on the State of Culture in the EU will track progress in the cultural and creative ecosystem, with particular emphasis on artistic freedom.
Furthermore, several new initiatives will be launched. They will include a new EU Artists Charter for fair working conditions for artists and cultural workers, a European Prize for Performing Arts, and a cultural stakeholders’ dialogue. There are also plans for an EU cultural data hub and a Youth Cultural Ambassadors Network to improve young people’s access to culture through a voluntary framework for national culture and cultural heritage passes. An AI strategy for the cultural and creative sectors and an update if the EU strategy on international cultural relations are also foreseen.
Next steps
The Commission invites the European Parliament and the Council to co-sign the proposed draft Joint Declaration to strengthen the EU’s political commitment to achieve its vision for culture.
For More Information
Culture Compass Communication
Culture Compass Joint Declaration
Factsheet
Q and A
Quote(s)
Culture goes to the heart of our European identity – what it is to be European.Today, we are putting culture back at the heart of Europe’s political vision – where it belongs.European cultural and creative industries are vibrant and vital. And they bring life and jobs to our cities and our rural regions alike. Whether you are a dancer from Lisbon, a filmmaker from Paris, a singer from Bucharest or a designer from Stockholm – we must recognise your value and promote it, at home and abroad.Culture is not a side story, it is the story of Europe. It deserves our attention, it deserves our political engagement, and it deserves strong policies. This Compass is our roadmap to place culture at the core of our political, social and economic life.
Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness
Europe is a global cultural powerhouse – a rich tapestry of languages, traditions, art, architecture, and music. With over 500 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Europe has more heritage sites than any other region in the world. Today, I am incredibly proud to present the Culture Compass for Europe. The Culture Compass points to what keeps Europe human, harnessing the power of art, culture and creativity, celebrating our differences. The Compass’ strategic vision – ‘Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe’ – sets into motion 20 flagship actions driven by four key directions. It connects culture to Europe’s future – where culture creates and inspires without borders, where culture works for its artists, and empowers its sectors, and connects us to the world.