On 6–7 July, Sofia University in Bulgaria hosted the international seminar “In Defence of European Values: The Power of Civil Society”, organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The event brought together EESC members, European journalists, communication professionals, and representatives of trade unions, employers’ organisations, and civil society organisations to discuss democratic resilience, competitiveness, social rights, and the impact of artificial intelligence on society.
A call to defend European values
The seminar was opened by Marija Hanževački, EESC Vice-President for Communication. Participants were welcomed via video message by EESC President Seamus Boland, who stressed that European values should never be taken for granted—they are protected and strengthened every day by active citizens and a vibrant civil society.
The first panel focused on Europe’s new economic direction. Discussions explored how the European Union can strengthen its competitiveness without compromising social protection, workers’ rights, or sustainability objectives.
Speakers examined the EU’s competitiveness agenda and its impact on the European social model, the balance between economic growth and social rights, the implications of simplifying sustainability legislation, and the role of trade unions, employers and civil society in shaping Europe’s future.
The discussion featured the presidents of the EESC’s Employers’, Workers’ and Civil Society Groups, alongside experts from academia, business and non-governmental organisations.
Democracy begins with trust
The second panel focused on strengthening democratic resilience.
Experts discussed:
- the growing threat of AI-generated disinformation;
- foreign interference in democratic processes;
- the influence of social media algorithms on public opinion;
- the importance of fact-checking;
- the role of civil society and independent media in safeguarding democracy.
One of the key messages repeated throughout the discussions was that democracy cannot exist without trust. Trust is built not through declarations, but through continuous dialogue, openness and meaningful public engagement.
Artificial intelligence: a tool, ont a decision-maker
The second day of the seminar focused on artificial intelligence and communication.
Experts presented the latest developments in AI and explored its use in detecting fake news, supporting fact-checking, and the emergence of autonomous AI agents capable of assisting communication professionals. Considerable attention was also paid to the human role in supervising AI systems, Europe’s digital sovereignty, data protection, and the challenges arising from Europe’s dependence on major US technology companies.
Speakers emphasised that artificial intelligence has enormous potential to improve the efficiency of communication professionals, but technology can never replace human responsibility. They also highlighted the need to develop European AI solutions based on transparency, respect for human rights and privacy.
The biggest communication challenge: being understood
The seminar concluded with a practical workshop on how communication professionals can become recognised experts in their field, make effective use of LinkedIn, and integrate AI into their work without losing their authentic voice.
The event served as a reminder that today’s greatest challenge is not simply the growing volume of misinformation. Equally important is ensuring that people continue listening to one another, critically evaluating information and trusting credible sources.
“In today’s information overload, it is no longer enough to flood audiences with messages—we must ensure they truly understand them. The purpose of communication should not be to manipulate emotions or maximise attention on social media, but to build trust, explain complex issues and bring people together in search of common solutions. This is exactly the kind of communication Europe needs today,” said Jūratė Čilinskaitė, who represented Lithuanian trade unions at the seminar.