The European Commission is set to unveil a “democracy shield” plan aimed at protecting the EU and its candidate countries from foreign interference, particularly from Russia, which it identifies as a primary threat. This initiative will be presented on November 12 and focuses on addressing issues like disinformation and political manipulation.
The draft highlights how Russia’s actions include spreading misleading narratives that undermine trust in democratic systems. Although other countries, notably China, have raised concerns regarding influence in Europe, the focus remains primarily on Russia. This comes amid ongoing debates in Brussels about the balance between fighting external threats and addressing internal issues like censorship and dissent suppression, exemplified by a recent Romanian court ruling related to Russian influence in elections.
The plan proposes several measures, including the establishment of a European Center for Democratic Resilience, aimed at improving threat detection and response. It seeks engagement with tech companies to tackle disinformation, encouraging them to enhance the detection of AI-generated content and “demonetize disinformation.”
Other recommendations include launching an EU digital identity wallet, creating a European network of fact-checkers, and strengthening election observation missions, especially in regions vulnerable to Russian manipulation. Financial support for independent media in the EU’s neighborhood is also proposed. While no specific funding details are provided, these initiatives are part of the broader 2 trillion euro proposal for the upcoming EU budget set for 2028.
