The European Parliament adopted on Tuesday – with 420 votes in favor, 220 against and 26 abstentions – a report on the findings of the Special Commission for the European Shield for Democracy, a document that includes practical recommendations on how the Union can better defend its democratic institutions and strengthen the tools it has, according to Agerpres.
In their own-initiative report, European MEPs warn that foreign interference and the threat of disinformation constitute ‘an attack on the very essence of the European project’, with citizens being the main victims, according to a statement from the EP.
The special committee of the European Parliament was established in December 2024, with the task of examining the intensification and impact of hostile activities directed against the European Union, such as foreign information manipulation actions and foreign interferences (FIMI), hybrid attacks, and coordinated disinformation campaigns. In their findings, European deputies argue that the Union’s current approach is fragmented, and member states cannot effectively counter these threats if they act alone.
Members of the European Parliament support the establishment of a European Centre for Democratic Resilience, as announced by the European Commission within its strategy concerning the European Shield for Democracy, in accordance with the proposals made by the European Parliament in the previous legislature.
They believe that this center would serve as an ‘independent center of excellence’, intended to combat FIMI and disinformation operations and to coordinate the measures taken at the national level. The new structure should not duplicate existing tools, but rather regroup the measures currently being implemented at the Union level into a single entity, with a clearly defined vision, mandate, and budget, and with the ability to act. Participation should be mandatory for all member states and parliamentary control should also be ensured.
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