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European Initiative Launches to Combat Disinformation Threats to Democracy
Disinformation has emerged as one of the most significant threats to democratic institutions across Europe, prompting the Council of Europe to launch a comprehensive five-year project aimed at strengthening societal resilience against false information campaigns.
The “Strengthening Societal Resilience to Disinformation in Europe” initiative, known as RESIST, takes a novel approach by addressing not only the spread of disinformation but also the underlying factors that make citizens vulnerable to misleading content in the first place.
Set to run from June 2025 through May 2030, RESIST will operate across ten European countries: Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. The project will also provide support to Belarusian media organizations operating in exile, acknowledging the particularly challenging circumstances faced by independent journalists from that region.
Funded by the European Economic Area (EEA) and Norway Grants, the project represents a significant investment in protecting Europe’s democratic foundations through a multi-faceted strategy focused on citizen empowerment.
“This isn’t just about fact-checking or countering individual instances of disinformation,” explains a Council of Europe representative familiar with the project. “RESIST examines why certain segments of the population are susceptible to disinformation in the first place and works to build cognitive resilience from the ground up.”
The initiative will concentrate on three core areas of citizen empowerment: enhancing media and information literacy, developing critical thinking skills, and strengthening media, education, youth, and cultural policies at both national and regional levels.
RESIST’s approach is firmly rooted in the Reykjavik Principles for Democracy and aligns with the broader objectives of the New Democratic Pact for Europe. These frameworks emphasize the interconnectedness of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law – the three pillars of the Council of Europe’s founding mission.
By identifying and addressing policy gaps at the national level, RESIST aims to protect information integrity while fostering inclusive public debate. The project recognizes that disinformation doesn’t just spread falsehoods but can fundamentally undermine public trust in democratic institutions and processes.
The primary beneficiaries of the initiative include public authorities, media professionals, educators, youth organizations, civil society groups, and cultural institutions across the participating countries. However, the ultimate beneficiaries are intended to be European citizens themselves, who stand to gain from more transparent information ecosystems and stronger democratic processes.
RESIST has established several concrete objectives for its five-year mandate. The project will provide policymakers and civil society organizations with practical tools to identify vulnerabilities to disinformation within their specific contexts. It will work to strengthen media, cultural, and educational policies that support critical information consumption. Perhaps most ambitiously, it aims to support countries in developing comprehensive national strategies specifically designed to build resilience against disinformation campaigns.
Media experts have noted that the initiative comes at a crucial time, as sophisticated disinformation techniques continue to evolve, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence technologies that can create increasingly convincing false content.
“What makes RESIST particularly valuable is its holistic approach,” notes a media literacy specialist from one of the participating countries. “Rather than treating disinformation as simply a content problem, it recognizes this as a societal challenge requiring coordination across multiple sectors and stakeholders.”
As Europe faces growing information threats from both domestic and foreign actors, RESIST represents a significant step toward creating more informed, critical, and resilient democratic societies capable of distinguishing fact from fiction in an increasingly complex information landscape.
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18 Comments
The fact that RESIST will operate across ten European countries is a testament to the scale and importance of the disinformation threat. I’m curious to see how the project’s strategies and learnings can be applied more broadly across the continent.
Absolutely, a coordinated, multinational approach is essential for effectively combating disinformation, which often transcends national boundaries.
I’m curious to learn more about the specific strategies and tools the RESIST project will employ to counter disinformation. Providing support to independent Belarusian media is also an important component.
Yes, supporting independent journalism in regions facing authoritarian crackdowns is crucial for preserving democratic freedoms and access to accurate information.
While the details of the RESIST program are still to be fully fleshed out, the overarching goal of protecting European democracy from the threat of disinformation is a noble and necessary one. I’ll be following the project’s progress with great interest.
While the details of the RESIST program are still emerging, the overarching goal of strengthening societal resilience against false information campaigns is a crucial one. I’ll be following the progress of this initiative with great interest.
Disinformation poses a serious threat to democratic institutions, so the launch of the RESIST initiative is a welcome development. I’m curious to see how the project’s strategies and learnings can be applied in other regions facing similar challenges.
Combating disinformation is a complex and multifaceted challenge, so the comprehensive, multi-pronged approach of the RESIST initiative is encouraging. I’m hopeful that this program will make a meaningful contribution to protecting European democracy.
Absolutely, a holistic strategy that addresses both the supply and demand sides of the disinformation problem is essential for long-term success.
Disinformation is a complex, ever-evolving challenge, so I’m glad to see the RESIST initiative taking a long-term, comprehensive view. Addressing both the spread of false information and the underlying factors that make people vulnerable is a smart approach.
The support for Belarusian media organizations operating in exile is a particularly noteworthy aspect of the RESIST program. Ensuring access to accurate, independent information is crucial in regions facing authoritarian crackdowns.
Agreed, the inclusion of this component demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the unique challenges faced by journalists in repressive political environments.
While the details of the RESIST initiative are still emerging, the overall focus on strengthening societal resilience against disinformation is a welcome and necessary development. I look forward to seeing the project’s progress and impact over the coming years.
The investment of EEA and Norway Grants in this initiative demonstrates a strong commitment to safeguarding European democracy. Disinformation remains one of the biggest threats, so this type of comprehensive, long-term program is much needed.
The RESIST initiative’s focus on addressing the underlying factors that make citizens vulnerable to misleading content is particularly noteworthy. Strengthening critical thinking and media literacy skills is crucial for building resilience against disinformation.
Protecting the democratic foundations of Europe is no easy task, but the RESIST initiative seems well-designed to address the complex challenge of disinformation. I’m hopeful it will deliver tangible results over the next five years.
Strengthening societal resilience against disinformation is a critical priority for Europe. The RESIST initiative sounds like a comprehensive and well-funded effort to address this complex challenge across multiple countries.
Agreed, the multi-faceted approach targeting both the spread of false information and the underlying factors that make citizens vulnerable is especially promising.