Outcome Report of the GDC Europe Forum 2026, held on 19 May 2026 in Prague with the support of the Global Democracy Coalition and the Kettering Foundation. The Forum brought together 80 participants from 18 countries, including policymakers, researchers, technology experts, civil society leaders and young political and civic leaders. Discussions examined how AI-generated disinformation, deepfakes and coordinated influence operations are reshaping elections and public trust ahead of a dense European electoral cycle. The report’s central finding is that the crisis of democracy in Europe is not a technology problem but a crisis of trust. It sets out policy recommendations for European institutions, national governments, technology platforms, political parties and civil society.
Outcome Report of the EDYN Roundtable held on 20 May 2026 in Prague, in partnership with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Building on the GDC Europe Forum the day before, this closed-door working session brought together 40 participants from government, civil society, media, academia and EDYN’s network of young leaders. Drawing on case studies from Central and Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans and the South Caucasus, participants examined how disinformation erodes institutional trust, social cohesion and democratic cooperation. The report concludes that disinformation has become a governance challenge, not merely an information one, and gives particular attention to gendered disinformation as a structural threat to democratic participation. It closes with recommendations for governments, political parties, independent media, civil society and international partners.
Outcome Report of the COMPASS Civic Incubator Lab Slovakia, held on 22 September 2026 in Bratislava within the EU-funded COMPASS project. The Lab brought together 53 participants from 18 countries to explore how Europe can strengthen its competitiveness in artificial intelligence while upholding democratic values, promoting social inclusion and creating opportunities for young people. A moderated expert panel with speakers from Accenture Slovakia, PowereX and CulturePulse, together with former Slovak Minister of Investments Peter Balik, was followed by a rotating World Café workshop. Discussions covered Europe’s position in the global AI race, what trustworthy AI governance should look like, and how AI is changing skills, jobs and participation for young people. The insights feed into the upcoming COMPASS Competitiveness Dialogue and the wider COMPASS process on youth perspectives on EU competitiveness in response to the Draghi Report.
The Youth Participation Handbook was composed by EDYN in cooperation with the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) for the Youth Democracy Cohort of the Summit for Democracy. It brings together 25 case studies from over 30 countries, showcasing best practices for driving youth political and civic engagement in diverse socio-political contexts. The handbook identifies the key enabling factors behind successful youth participation in politics and public life. It serves as inspiration for youth and democracy organisations, and as an evidence base for governments that want to strengthen young people’s political and civic representation. The first volume was presented at the 2023 Summit for Democracy in Costa Rica.
EDYN Features are articles written by EDYN members. In them, our members share their perspectives on the issues shaping their countries and Europe, from youth engagement and democracy to disinformation, EU enlargement and security.