Translated material
The Guardian: The EU will create a Center to counter Russian disinformation
The leadership of the European Union plans to create a Center for Democratic Resilience to counter disinformation from Russia and other authoritarian regimes.
A European Commission document obtained by The Guardian states that the center will engage in “exchange of information and early warnings” about possible manipulation by other states. It is expected that both EU member states and states wishing to join the European Union will participate in its work. Participation will be voluntary.
“In addition to its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia is also intensifying its hybrid attacks, waging a battle for influence against Europe,” the European Commission document explains the need for the center. “By spreading misleading narratives, sometimes including manipulation and falsification of historical facts, they attempt to undermine trust in democratic systems.”
Russian disinformation, the authors of the document claim, was spread on websites that imitate European media - Die Welt, Le Point, La Stampa and Polskie Radio.
The disinformation threat also comes from China, according to the document, which allegedly uses private PR firms and influencers to create and distribute “content tailored to its political interests” around the world.
The European Commission document referred to by The Guardian will be officially published on November 12.
- The creation of a Center for Countering Disinformation, notes The Guardian, is one of the points of the program with which Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected as head of the European Commission in 2024.
- The Russian authorities have been repeatedly accused of attempting to interfere in the politics of European states. In particular, in Romania, due to suspicions of Russian interference, the results of the presidential election were canceled . Attempts at Russian interference were also discussed in connection with the parliamentary elections in Moldova, which took place at the end of September.