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- Russia is the primary external threat; Belarus, China, Iran and North Korea also active
- Protection of free and independent media and fight against online electoral interference are key
- Clear mandate and dedicated budget needed for new EU body tasked with combatting foreign interference
- Online platforms should act against bot-driven electoral interference
Foreign interference and disinformation threats are an attack on the “very essence of the European project”, MEPs warn, with citizens as primary victims.
On Tuesday, Parliament adopted (with 420 votes for, 220 against, 26 abstentions) a report on the findings of the special committee on the European Democracy Shield, including practical recommendations on how the EU can do more to defend its democratic institutions and strengthen its existing toolbox.
Parliament’s special committee was set up in December 2024 and tasked with assessing the intensification and impact of hostile activities targeting the EU, such as foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), hybrid attacks, and coordinated disinformation campaigns. In their findings, MEPs...