On September 15, 2026, the European Parliament voted to strengthen the European Democracy Shield to counter Russian disinformation and hybrid threats. The move came after a report prepared by Lithuanian MEP Rasa Juknevičienė was approved with 420 votes in favor. The report aims to bolster the European Democracy Shield (EDS), a framework designed to protect European democracies from foreign interference.
MEPs Call for Action Against Russian Disinformation
In a statement to Euobserver, MEP Tomas Tobé emphasized the need to address Russian disinformation campaigns. "Russia is using troll factories and bot networks and investing massively to try to destabilise our societies," Tobé said. The MEPs' vote reflects a growing concern about the impact of these tactics on European democracies.
Freedom of Expression vs. Artificial Amplification
Nathalie Loiseau, another MEP, highlighted the distinction between genuine freedom of expression and the artificial amplification of debates by bots and trolls. "Freedom of expression is not the freedom for robots to artificially amplify the debates crafted outside of Europe," Loiseau said. This sentiment underscores the need for targeted measures to combat disinformation without infringing on legitimate speech.
Procedural Next Steps
The report, which passed with a large majority of MEPs, will now be sent to the European Commission for further action. The Commission is expected to draft detailed regulations to implement the measures proposed by MEPs. The European Centre for Democratic Resilience, at the heart of the proposals, will play a key role in monitoring and mitigating hybrid threats.
Diverging Views on Internal Interference
Polish MEP Beata Szydło from the European Conservatives and Reformists group expressed concerns about the potential for internal interference. "We have to fight foreign interference, but the answer to attacks from the outside is not interference from within," Szydło said. This view highlights the delicate balance MEPs must strike between protecting against external threats and preserving internal democratic processes.
High-Level Support
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg, emphasizing the importance of the measures proposed by MEPs. Kallas's support underscores the political significance of the vote and the broader implications for European security and democracy.
The next steps will involve the Commission drafting specific regulations to address the threats identified by MEPs. These regulations are expected to include sanctions against Russian entities involved in disinformation campaigns.