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Nets4Dem is entering its next phase 👏 Over the last three years, Nets4Dem has grown into a connected community of practitioners, researchers and institutions across Europe.

The European Democracy Shield can't be built top-down alone 💯 Information integrity, strong institutions and citizen participation only hold if we build them together. Here's what the speakers at the Nets4Dem conference in Brussels had to say 👇

What does democratic innovation look like in a social housing block? In Budapest, it's Safe at Home; with residents in K22, the city's largest social housing building, shaping its future directly with decision-makers. 🏆 Learn more about the winner of our Emerging Innovation Award: bit.ly/3Q4YmQU

Let's talk democracy. Not the headline version, but the one built in neighbourhoods, schools and public squares.

Where can trust in democracy be rebuilt? 🤔 Closer to home than you'd think. At the Nets4Dem Conference, we heard from Frederik Ceulemans, Alderman, City of Brussels: "Dissatisfaction with democratic representation is growing, not only globally, but also here in our cities."

Our high-level 'Local Action, European Impact: Strengthening Democratic Resilience' conference is currently underway in Brussels 🇧🇪

In 2025, we conducted real-world democracy experiments. With the 2nd Nets4Dem Democracy Lab, we brought together local governments, practitioners, and communities to address complex challenges in climate action. Learn more in our Annual Report: bit.ly/3NGhovD @eurocities.eu

Democratic resilience cannot be built by institutions alone 💯 At our 6th Nets4Dem Democracy Retreat, policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and experts came together to explore how the European Democracy Shield can actually work in practice. Learn more: bit.ly/41TEpib

The European Democracy Shield: From intention to reality | Democracy Retreat #6 - Nets4DemThe Nets4Dem 6th Democracy Retreat “The European Democracy Shield: from intention...bit.ly

Ideas aren’t the problem. Execution is. Learn what blocks democratic innovation - and how we’re helping kickstart it: bit.ly/3NGhovD

Nets4Dem Annual Report 2025: A New Chapter for Democratic Innovation - Nets4DemIn 2025, democracy in Europe faced both pressure and possibility....bit.ly

The Nets4Dem Local Action, European Impact: Strengthening Democratic Resilience is insightful for anyone working on democracy, governance, civic engagement or policy 💯 Join us on May 5! Register now 👉 bit.ly/4t0HuJf

Register for the high-level Nets4Dem conference on strengthening democratic resilience: 5 May in Brussels  - Nets4DemThe question of how to strengthen democratic resilience is gaining...bit.ly

Happening right now in Brussels 🇧🇪 At our Democracy Retreat, EU policymakers and experts are currently tackling a key challenge: turning the Centre for Democratic Resilience from ambition into real impact. Stay tuned for their takeaways! @tepsa.bsky.social @egmontinstitute.bsky.social

Join us 5 May in Brussels for the Nets4Dem conference by @eurocities.eu and @tepsa.bsky.social 👏 We're bringing together cities, EU institutions and civil society for insights, collaboration, and even an award for democratic innovation 🏆 Register now 👉 bit.ly/4t0HuJf

Let’s talk impact. What did Nets4Dem achieve in 2025? 🏛️ 90+ public bodies and organisations supported 👥 60+ policymakers and practitioners mentored 📝 400+ research projects analysed 🤝🏽 11 new participatory solutions developed 💬 380 stakeholders engaged in dialogue

📌 The #EuropeanDemocracyShield is a first of its kind: it recognises that foreign information manipulation and disinformation are not marginal issues, but structural threats to Europe’s democratic cohesion and security.

Want expert guidance for participatory democracy initiatives? 💯 Rising Stars Mentorship (free!) connects you with global experts for tailored support. First 2026 deadline: Feb 27. Don’t miss out 👉 bit.ly/4s7Q341

Experts brought together by @ifdtbeograd.bsky.social discuss how connecting academia, civil society and policymakers can turn insights into real democratic change. Exactly how we do it at Nets4Dem 🎯 Watch here: youtu.be/7VgxEZFASWc

From Knowledge to ImpactYouTube video by Nets4demyoutu.be

19 cities, 6 challenges, 3 days, 1 goal: re-engaging young people with democracy! 🇪🇺 At the Nets4Dem Democracy Lab in Bilbao, city teams and experts co-created innovative ways to bring youth closer to decision-making. Sharing their solutions soon ✨ @eurocities.eu @arantzazulab.eus

Opportunity: Prototype meaningful youth engagement! 👇 Feb 10–12, the Nets4Dem Democracy Lab comes to Bilbao! It's a three day interactive space for cities to solve real democratic challenges, learn from Bilbao’s innovations, and co-design solutions. Register by Feb 2 ⬇️ bit.ly/3Ngzcgh

ScaleDem launches open calls to scale democratic innovations across Europe 👏 Organisations can now apply for funding and support through piloting (up to €100k) or twinning (up to €65.5k) programmes to expand proven democratic solutions. More info and eligibility: scaledem.eu/open-calls/

Is it time to rethink the EU’s democracy support toolbox? 🤔 At our 5th Democracy Retreat, experts discussed how the EU can better support democracy in enlargement countries, including through “differentiated democratic enlargement”. How the discussions went 👉 lnkd.in/d2uizYXk