2025 proved to be a consequential year for the European Union. Trump’s return to the White House brought about a tsunami of geopolitical changes which have affected Europe’s relationship with the US, its security, its trade policy, its legislation and its internal politics.

Coupled with Russia’s continued war against Ukraine and the threat it poses to European defence, as well as China’s threat to Europe’s economy, the acute climate crisis, and the rise of far-right, nationalist political parties, the EU is challenged in a fundamental way.

Similarly, civil society has been under sustained attack, its legitimacy undermined, its funding removed and its ability to channel the voice of citizens handicapped.

In this context we were reminded of the importance of European solidarity & cooperation, and of the need to stand side by side if we are to meet our challenges steadfast and defend democracy across our continent. The challenges we face call for bold decisions and political leadership. They demand fundamental reform of the way the EU operates and deep investment in the policies that will safeguard our security, our environment, our economy, our social fabric and our democracy itself.

At the European Movement International, we strived to do our part through our thought leadership, advocacy, communications, events, stakeholder engagement and citizen outreach. We applied creative and innovative approaches, made the most of new technologies and cutting-edge research and teamed up with our members and partners to promote our common goals and to encourage our fellow citizens to vote. We organised a range of in-person and online activities and utilised the EMI’s communications channels to strengthen the voice of civil society in Europe, promote European cooperation in these trying times, reach out beyond our usual audience and increase citizens’ engagement with the EU. We accelerated our advocacy efforts vis-à-vis the EU institutions, promoting the European Movement policy positions and providing innovative and ambitious input in the debates of our times. We continued our work with citizens, not least to ensure that the Conference on the Future of Europe recommendations become a reality, either through legislation or Treaty reform.

At the very moment that the work of an organisation like the European Movement International is more important than ever, we have been faced with significant, and potentially incapacitating, cuts in the funding we received from the EU.

For that reason we are exceptionally inviting individuals to support our work through donations, so we can continue our advocacy in favour of European unity and European democracy, and to remain an independent civil society voice in Europe.

Thank you for your support. Click here to donate.

In the meantime you can find below a summary of our work in 2025. We look forward to what 2026 has to bring, and to working together for Europe.

Our Projects

REAL DEAL

This year marked the successful conclusion of REAL DEAL, delivered by the EMI together with a consortium of 16 partners. In its review of the project’s communication and dissemination work, the European Commission commended the ambition and professionalism of the campaign, noting that the narrative-change activities were ‘impressive’ and demonstrated clear expertise. Through an extensive mix of channels and tailored products – including factsheets and policy briefs for policymakers – the project reached more than 60 million citizens with constructive, forward-looking narratives on public participation in the green and just transition.

Stronger Together

Delivered in partnership with the British Council, the project sought to bring young people in the EU and the UK together to develop shared narratives of cooperation and collaboration. We closed this project with flying colours, having implemented a comprehensive digital campaign comprising five thematic videos that generated 5.4 million digital impressions and reached 3.3 million people. To further elevate youth perspectives, we produced a final recommendations video and promoted it through sophisticated targeting aimed at UK policymakers. This bespoke outreach secured an additional 987,000 digital impressions, ensuring that young people’s priorities were placed directly before those shaping the future of EU–UK relations.

Express2

A Horizon project, EXPRESS2, represents a concerted effort of 9 partners from 11 countries to redefine the EU social contract, making it more explicit, participatory, and resilient. In the Express2 project, the EMI advanced the drafting of a new EU Social Contract by leading an inclusive process of engagement with citizens, decision-makers, and stakeholders. Our activities gathered structured feedback on key themes such as digitisation, inter-generational fairness, and democratic participation, ensuring that the emerging Social Contract reflects Europe’s diverse realities. To broaden public involvement, we also launched a suite of narrative-change videos targeting major generations across the EU. Distributed organically and through social media advertising, these videos have already generated more than 26 million views on YouTube alone, opening the debate to audiences at scale.

ASSETS

The ASSETS project examines the role and challenges of the Social Economy sector in promoting social inclusion, improving job quality, and advancing sustainability across the EU. It employs a four-step strategy to explore SE’s impact on social inclusion, quality job provision, and sustainability: conducting research and case studies spanning regions both within and outside the European Union, improving evaluation tools through local integration and technological advancements, and creating a digital collaborative platform. EMI is leading the work package on Impact Creation, including the overall dissemination and communication strategy, visibility activities and, pan-European liaison and clustering between different stakeholders. In 2025 we have consolidated the outreach and communication mechanisms via the website, the newsletter, and regular social media posts, including the “Know the consortium” campaign, and organised two sister projects workshops.

Together for Europe

A joint effort of the EMI and its National Councils to celebrate Europe’s positive achievements together with citizens and stakeholders at the local and national level and inform them of the issues at stake and to increase citizens’ engagement in European democracy. In 2025, the focus of the financial support mechanism to our members was on enhancing democratic participation around Union values. Numerous events, workshops, panel discussions, school debates and contests, festivals and digital campaigns were implemented in 9 EU Member States: Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, Italy, France and the Netherlands. The activities of European Movements in these countries engaged in offline and online events 7500 citizens, reached directly 2.7 million people via digital campaigns while the information about their activities was disseminated to an estimate of 2.9 million people.

Women of Europe Awards

Our flagship event, the Women of Europe Awards, celebrated a spectacular tenth edition in 2025, shining the spotlight on 18 shortlisted nominees who further the causes of gender equality, social justice, and European integration through their work across the continent. This year ushered in a new category for the awards: Woman in STEM, to recognise women making achievements in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics while advancing European progress. The awards ceremony, organised in partnership with the European Women’s Lobby and the kind sponsorship of Microsoft, Google, and Diageo, and with Euronews as the media partner, took place at the Albert Hall in Brussels on Thursday 4 December 2025. See more about the latest edition, including winners, shortlisted nominees, the jury, and photos and video from the awards ceremony, at this link.

Our winners this year: Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy (Woman in Power); Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories (Woman in Action); Aino Bergius, CEO of SLUSH (Woman in Business); Romina Pourmokhtari, Minister for the Environment of Sweden; Former President, Liberal Youth of Sweden (Young Woman of Europe); Diana Ishchenko, Creative Director, Internews Ukraine (Woman in Media); and Dr Alessandra Sala, Senior Director of AI and Data Science, Shutterstock and President, Women in AI (Woman in STEM).

Women of Europe Activities

In 2025, we held two events in the margins of the Women of Europe Awards, building on the momentum of the awards ceremony to highlight the topic of gender equality and to engage stakeholders, allies, and interested parties throughout Brussels and beyond. On 4 November, we held the event Leading the Change: Women Driving Innovation and AI in Europe, kindly hosted by Microsoft on their premises. Bringing together representatives from EU institutions, the private sector, and organised civil society, our panellists examined how to turn Europe’s commitment to equality into a strategic advantage in the tech-driven and values-based global economy. Then, on 12 November, we held an exclusive high-level reception, co-organised with the UK Mission to the EU and hosted at the British Ambassador’s Residence, featuring a fireside chat with Caroline Read, Deputy Ambassador at the UK Mission to the EU, and Petros Fassoulas, Secretary General of the European Movement International. Their discussion reflected on how women’s leadership shapes responses to global challenges and strengthens international cooperation and partnerships. See more about the reception on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Democracy Alive

This year, we organised the third edition of Democracy Alive: The Brussels Summit, taking place on 22 May. The Summit gathered political leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, social partners, NGOs and organised civil society to explore the intersection of digital technologies and democracy—and the profound implications for the EU’s fundamental values. The Summit featured four panel discussions throughout the day, including a discussion with Members of the European Parliament, as well as a selection of high-level speakers. Topics included the ongoing debate on regulation versus deregulation of digital platforms, strategies to combat disinformation and foreign interference, and how digital technologies and social platforms can be better adapted, developed and designed to be rooted in the EU’s fundamental values and thus used as tools to strengthen democracy. We were delighted that the Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, joined us for a keynote speech followed by a Q&A session. Read more about the event here.

Talking Europe

This year, building on our ongoing partnership with the European Commission, we continued our Talking Europe event series, launched in 2020 with the aim to foster debate on the European Union’s work and its effect on the everyday lives of citizens. This year, we interviewed two Heads of Cabinets of European Commissioners. Secretary General Petros Fassoulas spoke with Alina Ujupan, Head of Cabinet to European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, in a wide-ranging conversation covering Europe’s social agenda, including the Union of Skills initiative, efforts to strengthen social protection and civic education, and how the EU is responding to the challenges of the green and digital transitions. They also explored Europe’s approach to trade policy, the evolving social contract, and the crucial role of civil society and citizens in shaping a fairer, more united Europe. Further, we were joined by Simonas Šatūnas, Head of Cabinet to European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, to discuss European security and defence, including global paradigm shifts, European support for Ukraine, the ReArm Europe plan and more, as well as how European citizens’ perspectives fit into the broader EU security agenda.

European Chats

In 2025 we continued European Chats, our series of online discussions launched in 2020 that gathered members of our network from across Europe for informal discussions on the most important issues they encounter in their work. This year, we hosted two discussions with member organisations of the European Movement. In June, we caught up with Valeria Ronzitti, Secretary General of SGI Europe, and Patrizia Heidegger, Deputy Secretary General and Director for EU Governance, Sustainability and Global Policies at the European Environmental Bureau to continue the evolving discussion around European security, and in particular, the broader understanding of security that emphasises human security and social dimensions. Then, in July, we spoke with Noelle O’Connell, CEO of European Movement Ireland, and Mike Galsworthy, Chair of the European Movement United Kingdom, about the state of EU-UK relations and how Trump’s ‘America First’ stance, Putin’s neo-imperialism, and the shifting geopolitical landscape affect the debate around European security. You can see all editions here.

Our policy and influencing

Over the past year, Europe and civil society have encountered both novel and familiar challenges. We have actively engaged in thought leadership and advocacy, collaborating within the European Movement International network to formulate and champion our policy recommendations. Our goal is to tackle the current global challenges and advocate for a future for our continent that upholds the fundamental principles of the European Union.

Bringing our member organisations together in our three Political Committees, we developed new policy positions and utilised existing ones. Take a look at our main policy priorities that guide our current work, get in touch if you would like to join us or support our work, and make sure to check our newsletters.

We used our policy positions to reach and engage different stakeholders.

• Targeted advocacy vis-à-vis policy-makers and institutions: We engaged with a multitude of policy-makers and we reached over 6000 people including 500 MEPs, 27 Permanent Representatives, and over 1000 senior stakeholders from the EU institutions and international organisations.
• Policy emails: We sent 30 e-mail blasts promoting our policy positions and we reached a very diverse audience including 500 MEPs, 27 Permanent Representatives, over 1000 senior stakeholders from the EU institutions, Member States and international organisations, and over 2800 stakeholders from EMI’s member organisations and European civil society organisations, think tanks, research centres, and social partners.

Our policy and advocacy work focused on various areas, consistent with our strategic priorities and our annual work plan.

The Rule of Law

We published and used for our advocacy and communication:

• The Copenhagen Declaration on Civil Society and Democratic Resilience;
• A policy focus on the 2025 Rule of Law report;
• A policy focus on the EU Civil Society Strategy and the European Democracy Shield (EUDS).

Engagement with the new European Parliament and European Commission 

To promote our positions and engage relevant stakeholders, we held:

• 2 editions of Talking Europe with Heads of Cabinets:
  • Talking Europe with Simonas Šatūnas, Head of Cabinet to European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius;
  • Talking Europe with Alina Ujupan, Head of Cabinet to European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu.

Media freedom and media pluralism 

We published and used for our advocacy and communication:

• A new policy position entitled “Digital Platforms and Foreign Interference: Safeguarding the EU’s Democratic Integrity“.

Enlargement and Western Balkans

To promote our positions and engage relevant stakeholders, we held:

• An event in the European Parliament co-hosted with MEP Vladimir Prebilic and entitled “Aiming Higher: Overcoming Challenges on the Road to EU Enlargement”.

Security, Defence and Democratic Resilience

We published and used for our advocacy and communication:

• A policy focus analysing the White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030;
• A policy focus analysing the Commission’s work programme for 2025: security, enlargement and sustainable prosperity in 2025;
• A policy focus analysing a New Chapter in EU–UK Relations? Resetting Security Cooperation at the London Summit;
• A policy focus analysing the EU Civil Society Strategy and the European Democracy Shield;
• A dedicated EU Explained video explaining the role of the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

To promote our positions and engage relevant stakeholders, we also held:

• A panel event entitled “European Defence & Security in the Age of Trump”.

To reinforce these policy and communication efforts with robust evidence, we commissioned an opinion poll in June across seven EU Member States on public support for democracy, security, and defence. The findings provided valuable insights into citizens’ expectations, concerns, and priorities in a changing geopolitical context. The results informed our outreach to policymakers, civil society, and the media, ensuring our positions were grounded in public opinion.

Transatlantic Partnerships

We published and used for our advocacy and communication:

• A new policy position entitled “Redefining the Transatlantic Partnership: Europe’s Path in a Trumpian World”;
• A call to test public opinion regarding the establishment of a European Movement in Canada.

To promote our positions and engage relevant stakeholders, we also held:

• A panel event entitled “European Defence & Security in the Age of Trump”.

Artificial Intelligence, Digital Platforms and Democracy

As the usage of AI continues to evolve, the regulation of digital platforms and their impact democracy at large and democratic election integrity in specific continued to spark a lively debate and some difficulties in the transatlantic relations, the European Movement International took part in that debate.

To that end, we published and used for our advocacy and communication:

• A new policy position entitled “Digital Platforms and Foreign Interference: Safeguarding the EU’s Democratic Integrity”.

To promote our positions and engage relevant stakeholders in this debate, we dedicated the 2025 Democracy Alive conference to it. The event included the following panels:

• One panel on regulation entitled: “Balancing the Digital Frontier: Wild West or Values-based Regulation”;
• One panel on dis- and misinformation, entitled: “Safeguarding Democracy: Strategies to Combat Disinformation and Foreign Interference”;
• One panel on future solutions: “Digital Democracy: Can Europe build Ethical Tech to strengthen Civic Participation?”.

Social, Sustainable, Creative and Prosperous Europe

In relation to the European Green Deal (EGD) we have:

• Held an event in the European Parliament co-hosted with MEP Lena Schilling entitled: “The First 100 Days: EU Climate Leadership or Standstill?”;
• Published a dedicated EU Explained video to explain COP30 and the EU’s approach.

In relation to the EUs social dimension, we have held:

• An online event on the United Nations (UN) World Social Summit 2025 entitled: “Shaping the Future of Social Development: Priorities for the UN Second World Social Summit”;
• A hybrid event in European Parliament co-hosted by Brando Benifei MEP entitled: “ShaPE – The Social Partners as shapers and makers of Social Europe: discovering foundations and futures”.

Additionally, we published and used for our advocacy and communication:

• A new policy position entitled “Turning Pressure into Power by Rethinking European Competitiveness”.

Gender equality and diverse representation

To promote our positions and engage relevant stakeholders, we held:

• A panel event entitled “Leading the Change: Women Driving Innovation and AI in Europe”;
• The tenth edition of the Women of Europe Awards.

Our communications

This year was a strong milestone for our outreach and community building efforts. Through our content, campaigns and events, we connected with over 40 million people across Europe and beyond, strengthening the visibility of our work and the sense of a shared European conversation.

Alongside research and audience insights, we focused on creating spaces for participation, dialogue and belonging. This approach helped us grow and nurture a diverse community that goes beyond our core pro-European supporters. Our social media channels now bring together 78 thousand followers, while our events welcomed more than 8000 participants over the year. Together, these numbers reflect a growing, engaged community built through trust, relevance and consistent engagement.

Europe Day Campaign

As part of Europe Day, Listen to People launched Protect What Matters, an emotionally resonant, multilingual campaign designed to inspire optimism about the EU’s future while acknowledging the challenges ahead. The central video was produced in eight languages and distributed across the EU, framing European cooperation as something worth defending and strengthening. The campaign generated more than 7 million digital impressions in addition to viral organic engagement, demonstrating the strong public appetite for hopeful, values-based storytelling.

EXPRESS2 – A New Social Contract Campaign

In the Express2 project, EMI drove large scale digital engagement to open the debate on a new EU Social Contract to wider publics. We produced a series of narrative change videos tailored to different generations across the EU. Distributed organically and through paid social media, the content reached audiences at scale, generating more than 26 million views on YouTube and significantly expanding public involvement beyond traditional policy circles.

Engaging the European Movement International Network

The European Movement International Network encompasses 70 member organisations, both National Councils and International Associations, bringing together European civil society, employers, trade unions, NGOs, political parties, local government and academia. This year we worked closely with all member organisations and brought together our network in various constellations to co-create the direction of the European Movement International.

To that end we held:

• 1 Federal Assembly
• 1 Members’ Council
• 4 Board meetings
• 12 Political Committee meetings

Our events in 2025

• 06 February – Aiming Higher: Overcoming Challenges on the Road to EU Enlargement
• 03 March – The First 100 Days: EU Climate Leadership or Standstill?
• 10 March – Crafting a New European Social Contract Together
• 27 March – Shaping the Future of Social Development: Priorities for the UN Second World Social Summit
• 09 May – Europe United: A Citizens’ Celebration
• 22 May – Democracy Alive 2025: The Brussels Summit
• 26 June – EuropeanChats with Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe & Patrizia Heidegger, EEB
• 27 June – EXPRESS2 Online Workshop: A future we build together
• 24 July – EuropeanChats with Noelle O Connell, EM Ireland & Mike Galsworthy, EM UK
• 23 September – Talking Europe with Alina Ujupan, Head of Cabinet to European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu
• 01 October – Talking Europe with Simonas Šatūnas, Head of Cabinet to European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius
• 04 November – Leading the Change: Women Driving Innovation and AI in Europe
• 21 November – European Defence & Security in the Age of Trump
• 04 December – Women of Europe Awards 10th Edition
• 09 December – ShaPE – The Social Partners as shapers and makers of Social Europe: discovering foundations and futures

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