Safeguarding democracy is no longer a matter of strengthening institutions, but a whole-of-society effort. Despite challenges, the European Union remains the most credible alliance, exercising democratic pluralism at home and multilateralism abroad. At a time of heightened vulnerabilities and democratic threats, the EU needs to develop sustained societal and institutional resilience to withstand shocks and evolve as a global actor. The session will address the strategic choices Europe should make to protect institutions, uphold democracy, and adapt to current and future crises.