# EU efforts against foreign interference and disinformation

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/eu-efforts-against-foreign-interference-and-disinformation
> Updated: 2026-09-15T14:18:33.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 2.

The European Parliament has moved toward implementing the ‘European Democracy Shield,’ an initiative designed to protect democratic processes and elections from disinformation and foreign interference. Early discussions focused on addressing hybrid threats from actors including Russia, Belarus, China, Iran, and North Korea, while also addressing online misinformation regarding the EU’s mandate over national election results.

Following these discussions, the European Parliament approved a report to strengthen the EU’s response to such threats, which members described as an attack on the ‘very essence of the European project’. The approved measures include the creation of a European Centre for Democratic Resilience to coordinate actions against information manipulation. 

The Parliament identified Russia as the primary threat through cyberattacks, sabotage, and espionage, while also noting Serbia as a significant hub for disinformation. To bolster defenses, the Parliament called for stricter enforcement of the Digital Services Act and the AI Act to mitigate bot-driven manipulation.

In a recent report from the Special Committee on the European Shield for Democracy, the Parliament expanded on these measures, advocating for the European Centre for Democratic Resilience to act as a central knowledge hub to prevent fragmented responses among member states. The committee also called for expanded sanctions against individuals facilitating disinformation or bypassing measures against Russia. Furthermore, the report urged the EU to reduce its dependence on foreign-controlled technology in critical sectors and emphasized that online platforms must take greater responsibility in protecting elections from deepfakes and bot-driven manipulation.

## Claims

- The European Parliament identified Russia as the primary external threat to the European Union's democratic integrity. (corroborated by 12 sources)
- The report highlights hybrid attacks including cyberattacks, sabotage, espionage, and signal interference from Russia, Belarus, China, Iran, and North Korea. (corroborated by 12 sources)
- The report was approved with 420 votes in favor, 220 against, and 26 abstentions. (corroborated by 11 sources)
- The Parliament supports the creation of a European Center for Democratic Resilience to coordinate member state activities. (corroborated by 11 sources)
- Members called for expanding sanctions against individuals who spread disinformation or help bypass existing measures against Russia. (corroborated by 10 sources)
- The report recommends holding digital platforms accountable for combating bot-driven election interference. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- Serbia was identified as a key center for disinformation and an intermediary for Russian and Chinese influence operations. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The Parliament urges reducing dependence on foreign-controlled technology in critical sectors. (corroborated by 6 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-15: European Parliament identifies Russia as primary threat to EU democracy

The European Parliament approved a report identifying Russia as the main threat to EU democracy, calling for a new European Center for Democratic Resilience to combat hybrid attacks and disinformation.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-parliament-approves-report-to-defend-democracy-against-foreign-interference

### 2026-09-10: European Democracy Shield aims to combat disinformation and foreign interference

The European Parliament is advancing the European Democracy Shield to combat disinformation and foreign interference, despite false claims that the initiative could influence French election results.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-democracy-shield-aims-to-combat-disinformation-and-foreign-interference

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Cite as: EU efforts against foreign interference and disinformation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/eu-efforts-against-foreign-interference-and-disinformation