EU Commissioner McGrath talked democracy with SU students

Michael McGrath's responsibilities in the European Commission comprise Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection. Thus, the aim of the visit was to discuss democracy with the students.

After introducing himself and describing the driving forces behind his own engagement – coming from a humble background in Cork in Ireland and firmly believing that everyone should have the right to be involved in politics if they want to – Michael McGrath briefly explained the fundamentals of his mission in the EU. Due to the rapidly changing political climate across the globe, he stressed the importance of the EU’s work to uphold democracy.

A different Europe

“It’s a very different Europe today because of what’s happening in the world. Most Swedes have not experienced dictatorship and are used to peace and stability. In many countries we are now seeing attempts to manipulate political elections, disinformation campaigns, gang violence and so on. It’s crucial that we, within the EU, manage to address these issues.”

After his talk, the students were free to ask questions, moderated by Alexander Katsaitis, Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science. Topics that were discussed included the threats of deep fake, AI and foreign interference, and what the EU is doing to tackle these issues.

According to McGrath, one of the worst threats to democracy is complacency and disengagement. When people begin to feel that they have no say and don't matter, they are more likely to fall prey to disinformation and manipulation.

“You have general elections in Sweden this year, don't you?” he asked the audience. “I hope you're all going to use your right to vote.”

Apart from visiting Stockholm University, the EU Commissioner had a meeting with the Minister of Justice, Gunnar Strömmer, and some members of the Swedish Parliament, to discuss justice and the state of law, during his short stay in Sweden.

Read more about EU Commissioner Michael McGrath