Amid mounting geopolitical tensions and threats to democracy, European leaders gathered in Paris on Monday for the “Democracy and Liberties” Summit, reaffirming their commitment to protecting liberal democracy around the globe. Co-organized by the European Democratic Party, Renew Europe, ALDE, and Renaissance, the summit united political forces to protect democracy, human rights, and European sovereignty against rising authoritarianism.
The summit began with an opening speech by François Bayrou, President of the European Democratic Party and Prime Minister of France. Bayrou called on political forces across Europe to unite in defending democratic institutions, emphasizing the need to safeguard fundamental freedoms, uphold the rule of law, and counter rising authoritarian threats. He urged the leaders present to strengthen international cooperation and keep democratic values at the core of European and global politics.
A central theme of the summit was the necessity of strengthening European defense. In a pointed reflection on past failures, Sandro Gozi, Secretary General of the European Democratic Party, reminded participants of the historic lessons Europe cannot afford to forget. “72 years ago: I refer to the major missed opportunity of the European Defense Community. We became experts in wasted time. […] It is time to act. We have the tools. Our treaties allow a group of states to move forward by majority in defense and security.”
Speaking at the summit, Valérie Hayer, President of Renew Europe, set the tone for the event with a resolute message. “Democracy and the values that have maintained peace and prosperity in Europe are under attack, but we refuse to accept their decline as inevitable. Today, we send a clear message: liberal democracy remains the best system to protect freedoms, ensure prosperity, and secure peace. We will build a strong alliance of democracies, support Ukraine for as long as it takes, and strengthen European defense. It is time for those who wish to defend democracy to unite.”
The Paris Declaration, adopted during the summit, lays out a series of concrete commitments. Among them is the creation of an alliance of liberal democracies to counter growing authoritarian influence worldwide. With an increasing number of governments rolling back democratic safeguards and fundamental rights, European leaders pledged to stand in solidarity with those resisting oppression, whether in Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, or beyond. The summit also underscored the importance of restoring multilateralism, emphasizing that global challenges, from security threats to climate change, can only be addressed through cooperation rather than confrontation.
Gozi’s words were echoed by Gabriel Attal, Secretary General of Renaissance, who reinforced the need for decisive action. “On the subject of defense, we have collectively agreed on the need to massively increase our investment to aim for 3% of GDP devoted by states to defense.” The commitment to greater defense spending signals a growing consensus that Europe must be prepared to safeguard its security independently, particularly in light of shifting global alliances.
Beyond defense, the summit placed a strong emphasis on Ukraine, reiterating Europe’s unwavering support for its sovereignty and path to EU membership. Attal announced that leaders had reached an “agreement to push for the acceleration of Ukraine’s accession process to the EU,“ even proposing that Ukrainian MEP observers take their seats in the European Parliament as early as next year. In addition, the Paris Declaration reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s reconstruction, an initiative seen as both a financial necessity and a moral imperative.
As the international order faces unprecedented threats, European leaders made clear that they will not allow democracy to be eroded in the EU and around the world
In his closing remarks, Gozi laid out the next steps for those gathered in Paris: “ We must reinvent political multilateralism and seek out democrats and liberals where they are in North America, Asia, Africa, to unite them around a battle for democracy and freedom. This is the key message from today’s summit. It’s the first step. We’ll work together to gather as many allies as possible worldwide.”
The commitments made in Paris will be further developed at the Renew Leaders’ Summit in the summer of 2025, where European policymakers will continue shaping the future of democracy in global politics.
