About the project

Project “DECIDE – Democratic Involvement through Critical Information Dissemination and Education” (Project: 101147391 – CERV-2023-CITIZENS-CIV) was implemented by June 2024 to May 2026. It involved several hundred participants – European citizens – through webinars, workshops and a live conference. The project provided an opportunity for European citizens to exchange experiences and perspectives on the future of Europe, participation in European democratic processes, the importance of developing critical thinking, media literacy and fact-checking skills in the post-truth era, as well as the tools and methodologies that support these competences.

This achievement was made possible by the dedicated work and close cooperation of all stakeholders involved, including partner organizations from Croatia, Austria and Lithuania.

Consortium

On behalf of the family, Croatia, coordinator

World Youth Alliance Southeastern Europe, Croatia

Ateitininkų Federation, Lithuania

Plattform Christdemokratie, Austria

Project goals

• Encourage civil dialogue.
• Actively support democratic and civic participation of citizens in the EU
• Increase awareness of the specific challenges of distinguishing factual information from disinformation in the post-truth era
• Identify key challenges after the 2024 European Parliament elections and increase the engagement of European citizens in discussions on EU policy priorities
• Strengthen citizens' resistance to misinformation by equipping them with the necessary knowledge and tools
• Strengthen media literacy among citizens, including by promoting appropriate education from an early age
• Restore public trust in institutions that has been damaged by disinformation
• Promote the active participation of young people in democratic processes and raise awareness of their important role in democracy

Key activities/events

Through its online events/webinars and live events, the project explored the challenges of navigating the post-truth era., exposing disinformation and strengthening media literacy. It also equipped young voters with the skills needed to critically participate in elections and policy-making, while stimulating public debate on EU values.

Over the course of 24 months, the project implemented seven interrelated work packages and conducted a diverse range of activities, including webinars, workshops, a hackathon, an online public forum, training programmes, a three-day international conference at the European Parliament in Brussels and an awareness-raising campaign. Activities were organised in Croatia, Austria and Lithuania, while online events enabled wider cooperation across Europe. The project was developed in response to challenges identified by partner organisations through consultations, brainstorming sessions and surveys.

• Event 1 (live) – Young Voters Initiative: Empowering the next generation to participate in EU policy-making processes

Location/dates: Zagreb, Croatia, September 20–22, 2024.

Short description: World Youth Alliance Southeastern Europe organized a three-day face-to-face training for 27 young participants, including 22 from Croatia, 3 from Austria and 2 from Lithuania, through the “Young Voters Initiative: Empowering the next generation to participate in EU policy-making processes.” The workshop was divided into two thematic parts, covering EU institutions, the adoption of EU legislation, the importance of elections and the role of the media in shaping public discourse. The combination of expert speakers, motivated young participants, skilled interpreters and technical support ensured a high-quality and engaging learning experience. As a result, participants came away better informed and empowered to participate in EU democratic processes.

During this activity, the Young Voters Network was established, and a PDF document was created describing the network's mission, vision, goals, and activities.

• Event 2 (online) – Public Forum: Priorities for EU policies after the 2024 EP elections.

Location/date: Vienna, Austria, November 27, 2024.

Short description: Plattform Christdemokratie organised an online public forum “EU Policy Priorities after the 2024 European Parliament elections.” The event was attended by 133 participants, including 64 from Austria, 27 from Croatia, 22 from Slovenia and 20 from Lithuania. In preparation for the event, an online pre-event survey was sent out in October 2024 and was open for completion for 11 days. Feedback was received from 287 participants. The survey was based on the “Strategic Agenda 2024-2029”, adopted by the EC in June 2024. Some of the topics that proved to be particularly important and relevant to the survey participants were the need for the EU to strengthen values such as respect for human dignity and commitment to democracy and freedom of expression. Furthermore, respondents considered comprehensive cooperation in the areas of migration and border management at EU level to be of utmost importance. They also stressed that promoting an innovation- and business-friendly environment is key to ensuring a prosperous and competitive Europe.

As part of this activity, the White Paper “Citizens' Proposals for EU Policies after the 2024 European Parliament Elections” was published.

• Event 3 (online) – Online webinar with experts: Truth in the company of truth

Location/date: Zagreb, Croatia, December 18, 2024.

Short description: On behalf of the family held a webinar with experts "Truth in the society of post-truth", which gathered 136 participants, including 18 from Austria, 97 from Croatia and 21 from Lithuania. The webinar dealt with the challenges of navigating the truth at a time when emotions and personal beliefs often overshadow the facts. The webinar focused on the challenges of recognizing factual information in the post-truth era, characterized by the widespread presence of disinformation, in the context of contributing to the fight against disinformation — one of the key priorities of the European Union. The post-truth era refers to a context in which public opinion, driven by emotions, has a greater influence on public life, decision-making and policy-making than objective facts. Raising awareness of this phenomenon among citizens is key to strengthening their media literacy and critical thinking. This "post-truth" environment affects how we form opinions, make decisions, and shape policies. The EU is actively addressing this issue in the fight against disinformation, and the webinar highlighted the importance of developing media literacy and critical thinking as a tool to combat them.

As part of this activity, the DECIDE Platform was developed and launched – an interactive online space in English that allows citizens across the European Union to participate in structured discussions and debates on key policy issues.

• Event 4 (online) – Media Literacy Hackathon

Location/dates: Zagreb, Croatia, June 11–12, 2025.

Short description: On behalf of the family organized a two-day online “Media Literacy Hackathon”, which attracted 136 participants, including 106 from Croatia, 14 from Austria and 16 from Lithuania. Building on previously organized events, this two-day event brought together participants of different ages and professions, interested in expanding their knowledge of media literacy and the challenges of access to a wide range of information in the context of the presence of new platforms, media and artificial intelligence in an era of widespread misinformation and disinformation. During the interactive sessions, the most effective methods and available digital tools were discussed with the participants, along with their limitations and potential areas for further development. The discussions also highlighted the importance of educating and empowering individuals in media literacy, with an emphasis on the complementary role of other stakeholders. Special attention was paid to the active role that citizens can play in using available tools to identify and prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation. Participants emphasized the importance of checking original sources and tracing information back to its primary source. Rather than jumping to conclusions, participants emphasized the importance of a thorough, evidence-based approach. The hackathon culminated in a series of presentations by teams presenting prototype ideas and concepts, expert feedback from mentors and judges – including representatives from NGOs, technology experts, and EU policymakers – and the selection of the 15 most promising ideas.

The Hackathon resulted in a Media Literacy Toolkit, which contains the best tools and methodologies developed during the event.

• Event 5 (live) – Workshop for Digital Journalists

Location/Dates: Vienna, Austria, June 16–17, 2025.

Short description: Plattform Christdemokratie organized the “Digital Journalists Workshop”, a training program with 37 participants, including 5 from Croatia, 28 from Austria, 2 from Lithuania, 1 from Slovenia and 1 from Germany. This event was designed to strengthen the integrity and resilience of journalists in the face of growing digital challenges. Its primary goal was to equip journalists and media professionals with practical knowledge, concrete tools and critical thinking strategies to help them uphold the principles of transparency, accuracy and ethical reporting. In a digital age where misleading content is spreading faster than ever before, the event served as a platform for reflection and action, encouraging journalists to responsibly adapt to new challenges and collaborate across sectors.

As part of this activity, the Digital Journalists Network was established, and a network document was developed describing its mission, vision, goals, and activities.

• Event 6 (Live) – Fact-Checking Ambassador Program

Location/dates: Vilnius, Lithuania, 10-12 October 2025.

Short description: Ateitininkų Federation organized a three-day “Fact Checking Program” with 25 participants, including 4 from Croatia, 2 from Austria and 19 from Lithuania. The expert lecture introduced participants to the nature of misinformation and disinformation, explaining how they spread, what their social consequences are and why fact checking plays a key role in strengthening democratic resilience. Based on this foundation, participants worked in groups to analyze real-life examples of disinformation, classify different types of misleading content and reflect on how narratives shape public opinion. Special attention was paid to new technologies, and sessions explored the role of artificial intelligence in the spread and fight against disinformation. Participants then participated in practical activities, learning to use various digital tools and platforms for fact checking and applying these skills through practical exercises. The program also highlighted the role of fact checking ambassadors. Through guided discussions, participants reflected on the responsibilities associated with promoting accurate information in the public sphere, the importance of countering disinformation through constructive dialogue, and effective communication strategies to engage wider audiences. The event equipped participants with practical skills, new strategies, and a strong network of colleagues committed to advancing media literacy and protecting democratic processes across Europe.

The program resulted in the development of a Fact-Checking Toolkit, which encompasses methodologies and tools for effective fact-checking, as well as a Fact-Checking Ambassador Program Methodology, which describes an approach for future program implementation.

• Event 7 (live) – Conference at the European Parliament: How to DECIDE on future policies?

Location/Dates: Brussels, Belgium, November 19–21, 2025.

Short description: World Youth Alliance Southeastern Europe organized a three-day international conference at the European Parliament in Brussels entitled “How to DECIDE on future policies?”, which brought together 31 participants from six EU countries: 20 from Croatia, 2 from Austria, 2 from Lithuania, 5 from Belgium, 1 from Slovenia and 1 from Ireland. Participants actively participated in panel discussions, lectures, workshops and a round table, together with Members of the European Parliament, experts in digital media, media literacy and disinformation, representatives of civil society organisations and project partners. During the three-day conference, presentations, proposals and strategies were given by Members of the European Parliament, university professors, journalists and editors, a film director and screenwriter, as well as representatives of civil society and legal advocacy organisations. The conference explored topics related to shaping European policies in the post-truth era, including disinformation as a threat to democratic processes in the European Union, the Digital Services Act (DSA), the importance of recognizing disinformation and strengthening media literacy, censorship and freedom of expression, the relationship between media discourse and civil society, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the importance of media education for citizens. Participants also presented concrete examples from the fields of arts, culture, and journalism. Speakers emphasized that mainstream media play a significant role in shaping public opinion on current events and influencing what is accepted as truth. They noted that misleading or incomplete information can contribute to a distorted understanding of reality.

As part of this activity, a Policy Recommendations Document was developed – recommendations that represent the voice of conference participants and citizens involved in the DECIDE project.

The activity also included the production and dissemination of awareness-raising materials, including press releases, newsletters, videos, articles and social media content.

All project materials and publications are available in Croatian, English, German and Lithuanian at project website DECIDES.

Thanks to the expertise and commitment of all stakeholders, the project results and outcomes will have a lasting positive impact by strengthening citizen engagement across the European Union and encouraging participation in democratic and electoral processes. The successful completion of the project opens the door to new opportunities for future initiatives, cooperation and further development of ideas that contribute to the partners' common goal – strengthening democratic participation among European citizens.

Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the grantee can be held responsible for them.