Slovenia Secures EU Support Against Foreign Disinformation Ahead of Elections

Slovenian Officials Warn of Foreign Interference Ahead of March Parliamentary Elections

Slovenia is actively collaborating with European Union institutions to combat foreign interference and disinformation campaigns ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections scheduled for March 22, according to State Secretary at the Slovenian Foreign Ministry Neva Grašič.

Speaking before a meeting of EU ministers for European affairs in Brussels, Grašič highlighted that democratic nations preparing for elections face heightened threats from foreign actors seeking to influence electoral outcomes. “Democracies that are facing elections are certainly a bigger target,” she stated.

In a notable observation that challenges common perceptions about the sources of disinformation, Grašič emphasized that such threats originate from diverse geopolitical actors. “Unfortunately, we are not seeing interference only from Eastern countries, but attacks from Western countries are also increasing,” she remarked, suggesting a more complex landscape of international information warfare than typically portrayed in public discourse.

The State Secretary expressed particular concern about the vulnerability of young voters to disinformation campaigns. These efforts primarily manifest as false narratives designed to mislead the electorate and potentially undermine democratic processes. Young people, who increasingly consume information through digital channels, are considered especially susceptible to sophisticated disinformation tactics.

To counter these threats, Slovenia has established a specialized disinformation task force led by the Government Communication Office (Ukom). Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs is strengthening its internal systems and expanding its team of experts dedicated to identifying and countering foreign interference.

The country’s approach incorporates EU-level measures adopted since 2020, including the Artificial Intelligence Act and the Code of Practice on Disinformation. These tools form part of the European Democracy Shield initiative unveiled in November 2025, which was a central topic of discussion among the EU ministers for European affairs meeting in Brussels.

Slovenia’s concerns reflect broader European anxieties about election security amid growing sophistication in disinformation tactics. The European Democracy Shield represents the EU’s comprehensive strategy to protect electoral processes across member states, combining regulatory frameworks, technological solutions, and cross-border cooperation.

The upcoming Slovenian parliamentary elections come at a time of increased geopolitical tensions across Europe, with several recent elections in other member states having faced documented interference attempts. Electoral integrity has become a critical concern for EU institutions as they work to maintain democratic stability across the bloc.

Political analysts note that Slovenia, like other Central European nations, occupies a strategically important position between Eastern and Western spheres of influence, potentially making its democratic processes targets for multiple external actors with competing interests in the region.

The Slovenian government’s preparedness efforts highlight the evolving nature of threats to electoral integrity, where traditional concerns about ballot security have been supplemented by the need to protect the information environment in which voters form their political opinions.

As election day approaches, Slovenian authorities will likely intensify monitoring of media environments and social platforms while coordinating with EU partners to share intelligence on emerging threats and disinformation narratives targeting the Slovenian electorate.