Knowledge is power. Your contribution counts.
Phew, all is not lost. Pro-democracy candidates just won in both the US and the Netherlands.
Perhaps this is a good moment to reconsider what democracy is really about. Can we treat it as a shared European public good, comparable to other essential infrastructure such as energy or healthcare systems? Sophie Pornschlegel wrote a great piece kicking off this debate.
As year-end approaches, everyone’s trying to take stock, while also sprinting through the final stretch — fast and furious. As you can see in this week’s recap, almost the whole Liberties team has been out at trainings and conferences, helping other NGOs communicate better or mobilising support for democracy.
The topic couldn’t be more timely: the whole EU is entering long-term budget planning, setting priorities for years to come. And under US pressure, EU leaders seem ready to take the easy route and give in to Big Tech — rolling back key European achievements such as privacy.
We’re not slowing down — not even in December. You can catch us in Brussels and Berlin, just drop us a message. And if you want to support us from afar, consider donating — you might even get one of the brand new, cool Liberties T-shirts from us.
In a Nutshell
- Liberties goes North: Denmark’s leading civil liberties group, Nyt Europa, has joined Liberties’ expanding network of 24 member organisations in 21 EU member states.
- How to mobilise for democracy: Our Director, Balazs Denes, took part in an inspiring panel discussion about mobilising for democracy at the Democracy and Rights Conference in Copenhagen, organised by Nyt Europa.
- Resistance Lab: Valentin, our Head of Communications, facilitated a crash course on persuasive messaging for a group of campaigners and activists in Budapest.
- Systemic digital risks to elections: There is growing concern that foreign and domestic actors are manipulating social media apps through coordinated inauthentic behaviour—such as fake accounts, bots, or paid influencers—to sway public opinion, disrupt elections, and spread divisive rhetoric during key political moments. Liberties’ submission was quoted in the first report of the European Board for Digital Services.
- AI in Healthcare: How does an algorithm diagnosing disease from medical images compare to a model predicting outbreaks, an AI-guided surgical robot, or a patient-support chatbot? Eva Simon joined a panel in Barcelona to discuss creative ways to better understand AI systems.
- Eleanor in Brussels: At the launch of a study about the experience of trans and non-binary people in Belgium, Eleanor hosted a workshop teaching activists how to talk persuasively to the public when campaigning for their rights.
- Strong on rhetoric, soft on action: The EU Civil Society Strategy is a missed opportunity to propose concrete actions that would make a real difference in safeguarding civic space.
In Focus
Democracy is a European Public Good
Sophie Pornschlegel’s new paper uses a novel approach in her argument calling on the EU to urgently change its approach to safeguarding democracy before it is damaged beyond repair. Learn more.
Digital Omnibus: A Blow to Digital Rights
The European Commission proposes to roll back cornerstone protections like the GDPR and AI Act — concessions seemingly made to appease Big Tech and geopolitical pressure. Read the full article here.
Liberties’ 2025 Gap Analysis: The EU Rule of Law Report Needs Serious Reform
The majority of the 2025 EU Rule of Law Recommendations are recycled, and only few are fully implemented, our new research finds.
Together, we are stronger
By supporting Liberties, you make it possible for our team of human rights defenders and campaigners to respond quickly when our liberties come under threat.
Your help makes all the difference
Our human rights are most vulnerable when no one is paying attention. As an independent watchdog, Liberties makes lots of noise when our human rights come under attack. But we can’t do it alone - it is only thanks to your support that our work is possible. Help make our voice stronger by donating today. Every contribution counts.
In The Media
EUObserver
Op-ed: Why the EU's rule-of-law report is toothless
The EU Commission envisages its rule-of-law report as a buffer against authoritarianism and a tool to strengthen democracy in the EU. In theory, this sounds promising (and desperately needed). But in practice, the commission’s reporting cycle risks becoming ornate window dressing.
The Guardian
EU's rule of law reports 'even less comprehensive' this year, risks 'backsliding', campaigners warn
“....the civil rights group Liberties has also just published its assessment of the EU commission’s separate annual rule of law report, which looks at the union’s member states and their work in this area.”
Politico Brussels Playbook
Copy Paste Job: “Liberties, a network of civil liberties groups across the EU, will today release analysis of the Commission’s most recent rule of law report. It finds 93 percent of this year’s recommendations were repeats, many verbatim, with 71 percent dating back to 2022. Only nine new recommendations made it into the 2025 edition. Meanwhile, the share of “fully implemented” recommendations dropped from 11 percent in 2023 to just 6 percent this year. [donation title={Our work relies on your support!}]
Member's Corner
Local farmer v Global Energy Company: LHD is party to a case in which a local Belgian farmer is suing global multi-energy company TotalEnergies over the multiple extreme weather events his farm has suffered. Learn more.
Prison Podcast: ‘BAD. The prisons of the boys seen from the inside,’ is the new podcast from Antigone, which tells the stories of five young men and women who have experienced juvenile detention, community service and probation in Italy. And join Antigone for the launch of the International Guiding Statement on alternatives to solitary confinement (IGS), taking place online on 11 December 2025, 2:30pm to 7:30pm CET.
Attack on state lawyer: BDH joined other Bulgarian organisations speaking out against an attack on a brutal, mafia-style attack carried out against a magistrate, Ivo Iliev, a prosecutor from the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office, a dangerous escalation of attacks on the judiciary.
Living Peace: Our Slovenian member, The Peace Institute, has created a series of public letters – stories from the world, written by people whose lives have been interrupted by war or who found themselves in armed conflict. Read them here.
What We Read, Watch (or Eat)
- Jacobin: The Trouble With Fascism Analogies
- Civicus: New report on foreign agent laws
- People v Big Tech: Stand Up Ursula
- ABC News (Video): Zohran Mamdani's victory speech following historic NYC mayoral win
Follow the Money: How Google fooled Brussels: the tech giant’s playbook exposed
- Superrr: What are we fighting for?
- EU Observer: How NGOs die — Europe's playbook for dismantling democracy
What’s Next
- Liberties’ Advocacy Advisor, Kersty McCourt, will facilitate the annual training in Brussels on the use of the EU Charter in litigation / 10 Dec
- New Board vote / 15 Dec.
- Year-End Democracy Drinks with Liberties’ best DJs in Berlin / 18 Dec: RSVP
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