A Europe that protects: EU reports on progress in fighting #Disinformation ahead of European Council

The Commission and the High Representative published a report on the progress achieved in the fight against disinformation and the main lessons drawn from the European elections, as a contribution to the discussions by EU leaders next week. Protecting our democratic processes and institutions from disinformation is a major challenge for societies across the globe.

To tackle this, the EU has demonstrated leadership and put in place a robust framework for coordinated action, with full respect for European values and fundamental rights.

The Joint Communication sets out how the Action Plan against Disinformation and the Elections Package have helped to fight disinformation and preserve the integrity of the European Parliament elections.

High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini, Digital Single Market Vice President Andrus Ansip, Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Commissioner Věra Jourová, Security Union Commissioner Julian King, and Digital Economy and Society Commissioner Mariya Gabriel said in a joint statement: “The record high turnout in the European Parliament elections has underlined the increased interest of citizens in European democracy.

"Our actions, including the setting-up of election networks at national and European level, helped in protecting our democracy from attempts at manipulation. We are confident that our efforts have contributed to limit the impact of disinformation operations, including from foreign actors, through closer coordination between the EU and member states. However, much remains to be done. The European elections were not after all free from disinformation; we should not accept this as the new normal. Malign actors constantly change their strategies. We must strive to be ahead of them. Fighting disinformation is a common, long-term challenge for EU institutions and member states.”

The full statement and additional details are available in the press release, including the latest update by online platforms under the self-regulatory Code of Practice on Disinformation. The progress made since December 2018 under the Action Plan against Disinformation is also summarized in a factsheet.

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