| 13 April 2022 |
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| Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell i Fontelles on behalf of the European Commission |
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| Question reference: E-005290/2021 | ||
| The EU takes foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) very seriously, and has been working since 2015 to support Member States in countering it. Several policy documents outline the EU’s approach. The systematic use of FIMI by the Kremlin in its aggression against Ukraine underlines the threat it poses.
Cooperation with Member States in the framework of the European External Action Service (EEAS) managed Rapid Alert System (RAS)(1) enables a common approach. Work led by EEAS(2) is ongoing to further strengthen the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) toolbox to prevent, deter and respond across four cross-cutting dimensions: situational awareness, resilience, disruption and diplomatic responses or instruments in the CFSP area. The European Democracy Action Plan(3), the proposed Digital Services Act(4) and the Reinforcing democracy and integrity of elections package(5) highlight specific elements pertaining to information manipulation. The Commission’s 2021 Guidance(6) on the Code of Practice(7) on disinformation calls for stronger actions to counter it. The European Digital Media Observatory(8) supports the independent research community in Member States. The Commission works with Member States through the Cooperation Network on Elections’ and the joint election resilience mechanism(9). The Commission issued a proposal for a regulation on transparency and targeting of political ads(10); the internal Network against Disinformation streamlines advice on communication responses to disinformation. |
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| Last updated: 13 April 2022 |