RESIST Project Launches to Strengthen Society Against Disinformation

The Council of Europe launched a groundbreaking initiative today aimed at combating one of the most significant threats facing European democracies: disinformation. The Strengthening Societal Resilience to Disinformation in Europe (RESIST) project marks a coordinated effort to help member states develop and enhance strategies against the spread of false information that has increasingly polarized societies and eroded public trust in democratic institutions.

Disinformation campaigns have become more sophisticated in recent years, targeting everything from electoral processes to pandemic responses across the continent. These coordinated efforts to spread false narratives have raised alarms among democratic watchdogs who warn about their corrosive effect on civil discourse and institutional legitimacy.

RESIST takes an innovative approach by focusing on multiple sectors including culture, education, media, and democratic governance. Rather than addressing disinformation through isolated interventions, the project aims to provide member states with comprehensive tools, guidance documents, and cooperative platforms that can be tailored to their specific national contexts.

“We are breaking new ground with the RESIST project because culture, youth work and education are largely untapped resources for making citizens more aware and resilient to disinformation,” said Irena Guidikova, Head of the Democratic Institutions and Freedoms Department at the Council of Europe. “Thanks to EEA and Norway Grants support, we can go beyond the classic anti-discrimination approaches which are clearly not sufficient.”

The project directly supports the Council of Europe’s New Democratic Pact, which serves as a roadmap for democratic renewal across the region. This alignment positions RESIST as a practical implementation mechanism for the pact’s three central pillars: learning and practicing democracy, protecting democratic institutions, and fostering democratic innovation.

The launch follows the recent High-Level Conference on Disinformation held in Malta, creating a bridge between international discussions and concrete action. The inaugural event brought together representatives from multiple countries including Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Notably, representatives from Belarusian media outlets operating in exile also participated, highlighting the project’s relevance to journalists working under authoritarian pressure.

Officials from the Financial Mechanism Office of the EEA and Norway Grants, which provides the project’s funding, were also present at the launch. Participants engaged in detailed discussions about methodology, structural organization, and implementation timelines to ensure the initiative delivers meaningful results.

The timing of RESIST is particularly significant given the multiple elections scheduled across Europe in the coming year and increasing evidence that foreign actors are attempting to influence democratic processes through coordinated disinformation campaigns. Recent studies have shown that public vulnerability to false information varies significantly across demographic groups and regions, suggesting that tailored approaches are necessary.

Experts have long criticized the fragmented nature of anti-disinformation efforts in Europe, with different countries adopting varied regulatory frameworks and civil society organizations often working in isolation. RESIST aims to address this shortcoming by creating transnational cooperation mechanisms that allow for knowledge sharing and coordinated responses.

The project’s focus on cultural and educational dimensions represents a shift from purely regulatory or media literacy approaches that have dominated previous efforts. By incorporating youth work and cultural initiatives, RESIST acknowledges that building societal resilience requires engaging citizens through multiple channels and at different stages of life.

Funded by the EEA and Norway Grants financial mechanism, RESIST will be implemented by the Council of Europe’s Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression, which brings substantial experience in protecting media freedom and promoting access to accurate information across the region.

As the initiative moves forward, it will face the challenge of balancing robust anti-disinformation measures with protecting fundamental rights like freedom of expression—a balance that European democracies continue to navigate in the digital age.