Parliament's proposals to defend democracy against foreign interference

MEPs warn that foreign interference and the threat of disinformation are "an attack on the very essence of the European project," with citizens as the main victims. On Tuesday, Parliament adopted (with 420 votes in favour, 220 against and 26 abstentions) a report on the findings of the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield. The document sets out practical recommendations on how the Union can better defend its democratic institutions and strengthen the tools at its disposal. Parliament's special committee was set up in December 2024 to examine the intensification and impact of hostile activities directed against the European Union, such as foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), hybrid attacks and coordinated disinformation campaigns. In their findings, MEPs argue that the Union's current approach is fragmented, and that member states cannot effectively counter these threats acting alone. A new EU body to defend democracy MEPs support setting up a European Centre for Democratic Resilience (as announced by the European Commission as part of its European Democracy Shield strategy, in line with proposals put forward by the European Parliament in the previous term). They see this centre acting as an "independent centre of excellence" tasked with countering FIMI and disinformation operations and coordinating measures taken at national level. The new structure should not duplicate existing tools, but rather bring together measures already being implemented across the Union into a single entity, with a clearly defined vision, mandate and budget, and the capacity to act. Participation should be mandatory for all member states, and parliamentary oversight should also be ensured. Russia: the main threat to Europe's democratic integrity The report highlights frequent hybrid attacks launched by Russia against critical infrastructure, taking various forms such as cyberattacks, physical sabotage, arson, espionage and signal jamming. Belarus, China, Iran and North Korea also carry out such attacks. MEPs want expanded sanctions against those who facilitate disinformation and those who help them evade existing sanctions. The report also condemns the fact that Russia has drawn up a politically motivated "blacklist" featuring officials, journalists and MEPs. In MEPs' view, the list is a tool of hybrid warfare. Digital interference Since these attacks mostly take place in the digital space, MEPs call for the rigorous enforcement of existing digital rules (such as the Digital Services Act and the AI Act), rather than introducing new legislation. MEPs also want platforms to be held accountable and to do more to combat bot-driven electoral interference, as well as to protect democratic discourse. The report states that freedom of expression and freedom of information are rights that protect people, not machines. EU sovereignty MEPs urge the European Union to reduce its dependence on technology controlled by foreign actors in critical sectors, in particular US tech companies and Chinese hardware manufacturers. To this end, MEPs propose a balanced "buy European" strategy for investment in critical infrastructure, as well as diversifying the supply of critical raw materials by identifying more reliable partners. Electoral resilience To protect the integrity of elections from evolving threats and to prevent proxy funding and interference, MEPs propose classifying electoral infrastructure as critical infrastructure. They call for political donations made in cryptocurrency to follow a "know your donor" principle. At the same time, measures should be introduced against deepfake content and fraudulent advertising, and women running for election should receive better protection. MEPs say it is essential to maintain close cooperation and provide assistance to improve the resilience of candidate and partner countries. They also condemn the instrumentalisation of migration, which they see as an unacceptable attempt to put political pressure on the European Union. Media freedom and civil society According to MEPs, better media and AI literacy is essential, alongside a strong and independent civil society. Parliament calls for long-term funding to support media freedom and investigative journalism, as well as safeguards against illegal spyware and support for civic participation. Preparing society MEPs stress that strengthening democratic resilience depends on society's ability to keep functioning in times of crisis. They recommend organising regular large-scale exercises, creating a Union-wide crisis alert app, and establishing a "European Preparedness Day" on 24 February, the date Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Quote Rapporteur Tomas Tobé (EPP, Sweden) said during the plenary debate: "This report is not about regulating political opinions. It is about protecting our democracy from foreign interference operations. Russian bots are not freedom of speech. Foreign interference is not freedom of speech. And manipulating our elections is certainly not freedom of speech."