Building Democratic Resilience to Disinformation: High-Level Conference Set for Malta

In a significant effort to combat the growing threat of disinformation across Europe, the Council of Europe and Malta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism will co-host a major conference focused on strengthening democratic resilience against false information campaigns. The High-Level Conference on Building Democratic Resilience to Disinformation will take place on September 17, 2025, at the historic Villa Bighi in Kalkara, Malta.

The conference comes at a critical moment, as European democracies face increasingly sophisticated disinformation operations that threaten to undermine public trust in institutions and electoral processes. The event is being organized under the auspices of Malta’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, highlighting the small Mediterranean nation’s diplomatic role in addressing this pan-European challenge.

According to the 2025 Report of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, disinformation represents one of the most serious contemporary threats to democratic foundations across the continent. The report, which calls for a New Democratic Pact for Europe, emphasizes how coordinated misinformation campaigns are eroding citizens’ ability to access reliable information and make informed decisions—a cornerstone of functioning democratic societies.

Security experts have noted that information manipulation has evolved dramatically in recent years, with hostile state and non-state actors deploying advanced technologies to spread false narratives. Digital platforms, particularly social media networks, have inadvertently become amplifiers of such content, creating echo chambers that can rapidly spread misleading information to millions of users.

“We’re seeing disinformation tactics that significantly threaten electoral integrity, media pluralism, and fundamental rights across Europe,” said a Council of Europe spokesperson. “This conference represents an urgent response to these evolving threats.”

The gathering at Villa Bighi will serve as a platform for dialogue among diverse stakeholders, including government officials, policy-makers, regulatory authorities, journalists, civil society representatives, and academic researchers. Participants will share promising practices and discuss potential solutions to enhance resilience against information manipulation while preserving democratic values.

In a notable development, the conference will also mark the official launch of RESIST: Strengthening Societal Resilience to Disinformation in Europe—a new initiative by the Council of Europe. This project, funded by the European Economic Area (EEA) and Norway Grants, aims to provide concrete support to member states in developing comprehensive strategies against disinformation.

The RESIST program will focus on building sustainable approaches to counter false information by equipping policymakers and civil society organizations with analytical tools to assess vulnerabilities. It will also support national inter-sectoral collaboration for developing and implementing anti-disinformation strategies tailored to each country’s specific context.

Malta’s role as host underscores the small nation’s growing influence in European policy discussions. The Mediterranean island has increasingly positioned itself as a bridge between European and North African nations on issues ranging from migration to cybersecurity, making it a fitting location for discussions on cross-border information threats.

Villa Bighi, the conference venue, carries historical significance as a former Royal Navy hospital that has been transformed into a center for innovation and knowledge exchange. Its Mediterranean setting provides a symbolic backdrop for discussions on protecting Europe’s information ecosystem.

The conference comes amid growing concern about the potential impact of disinformation on upcoming elections across several European nations. Recent studies have documented increased sophistication in synthetic media, including deepfakes and AI-generated content, which pose new challenges for verification and fact-checking efforts.

Political analysts suggest that the conference timing—approximately 18 months before several major European elections—is deliberate, allowing for implementation of new safeguards before these critical democratic exercises.

Further details about the conference program, speakers, and registration information will be available on the Council of Europe’s dedicated conference webpage in the coming months.