Brussels | We firmly believe that an essential pillar of democracy is ensuring the freedom for all citizens to publicly express and defend their convictions and principles in a respectful and peaceful manner. The culture of cancellation and censorship should have no place in democratic societies.

On February 3, the European Parliament will host the VII Transatlantic Summit, which will bring together political representatives, civic leaders, and experts from the Americas, Africa, and Europe for a high-level dialogue on the current challenges to the exercise of freedom of expression. Delegations from more than 35 countries and members of three major parties in the European Parliament have confirmed their participation.

Less than a week before the event, a member of a separatist party in Spain has called for it to be banned, claiming that it would bring together “extremists.” A similar situation occurred in 2024 during the VI Transatlantic Summit in the Spanish Senate, when parliamentarians from the same political spectrum pushed for its cancellation using the same arguments. The Senate responded in an institutional manner, affirming its democratic nature, and maintained the event, which complied with all applicable regulations.

The European Parliament already hosted a Transatlantic Summit in 2017. For more than a decade, PNfV has held summits and regional events in parliamentary and institutional forums: the UN headquarters in New York, the Capitol in Washington, the Spanish Congress of Deputies, the Congress of the Republic of Colombia, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Spanish Senate, and the congresses of Guatemala and Ecuador.

None of these institutions censored or canceled the event. At the UN headquarters, the event was broadcast live on its official channel, and the New York Declaration was incorporated into the records of the 78th session of the General Assembly.

We defend freedom of expression, the right to participate in public life, to debate and to disagree in a peaceful and respectful manner. The values that unite us are far from “extremist”: they are the principles and rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which we consider inalienable.

Freedom of expression is not a privilege, but a right—prior to the State—that must be recognized and protected for all. Without the freedom to speak, debate, and disagree peacefully and respectfully, all other rights are weakened and democracy loses its foundation.

When we chose the theme for the VII Transatlantic Summit, we warned of the rise of a trend toward restricting free speech. The attempt to cancel the Brussels Summit confirms this concern and shows that this Summit is now more necessary than ever.

We call on political and civic leaders who share our values to mark a change of course that guarantees a future of dialogue and open debate.

Brussels, January 30, 2026.