It is daunting to imagine how global democracy can be effectively supported as the Trump administration and other major democracies step back from vital diplomatic and aid commitments. Yet reinvention is possible—necessity can be turned into opportunity.

The EU’s pursuit of tech sovereignty has often sidelined the role of democracy in the digital sphere. The union should adopt a tech citizenship strategy that promotes citizen engagement, democratic innovation, and accountability.

The Georgian and Serbian leaders’ pivots away from the path to EU accession show the bloc’s waning appeal. To keep EU enlargement on track, Brussels should focus on candidate countries that are making genuine progress toward membership.