High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas delivered a keynote speech at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, warning that democratic systems face pressure from authoritarian influence, disinformation and political intimidation.
Kallas described democracy as a strategic asset that needs active defence rather than passive admiration. Her remarks connected the protection of democratic space inside societies with the EU’s wider foreign policy objectives.
The speech emphasised that information manipulation, election interference and attacks on civic freedoms are not isolated domestic issues, but part of a broader contest over political systems and values.
Kallas used the summit to argue for stronger resilience, clearer political communication and more coordinated action among democracies. The message placed democratic defence alongside security and economic preparedness as a priority for Europe.