Council approves conclusions on safeguarding electoral processes from foreign interference

The Council approved conclusions on democratic resilience and safeguarding electoral processes from all forms of foreign interference.

As billions of citizens cast their ballots globally in 2024 – including in the European Parliament elections – the conclusions underline that democratic resilience remains a central focus of the Council's agenda.

In an evolving security environment, democracies face new challenges as malign actors are increasingly using hybrid tactics to undermine electoral processes, cast doubt on their legitimacy and discourage people from voting. In addition to information manipulation by foreign actors, which is on the rise, hybrid campaigns can also include malicious cyber activities and other elements, such as the use of artificial intelligence and deep fakes.

The Council conclusions provide an overview of the various mechanisms that the EU has at its disposal to counter hybrid threats and foreign interference and to safeguard elections. Such measures include the Hybrid Toolbox, the Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) Toolbox and the Hybrid Rapid Response Teams, which provide a framework for a coordinated response to hybrid campaigns, as well as the Digital Services Act, the strengthened Code of Practice on Disinformation, the European Media Freedom Act and various coordination networks.

In view of the upcoming European Parliament elections, the Council calls on EU institutions and member states to step up action to monitor attempts by foreign actors to interfere in the EU's democratic process. It invites the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Commission, together with the member states, to maximise the use of all established mechanisms, networks and tools in order to ensure close cooperation within the EU and support the integrity of elections, without impeding open democratic debate.

The Commission is invited to continue its work with online platforms, as well as its close cooperation with civil society, academia and fact checkers, and information exchange with member states, to counter foreign interference and disinformation in the digital space.

The Council also stresses the critical role of free, independent and pluralistic media and the need to foster digital and media literacy among citizens to strengthen overall societal resilience to foreign information manipulation and interference.

Background

In the context of the upcoming European elections, raising awareness of foreign interference in the electoral processes and protecting elections from all forms of foreign interference has been an important priority for the EU institutions and the member states.

This issue was underscored by EU leaders at their meeting on 17-18 April, when they highlighted the determination of the EU and its member states to closely monitor and contain any risks stemming from disinformation and foreign interference in electoral processes. Leaders invited the EU institutions and national authorities to cooperate on such matters. 

Following up on that call, on 24 April 2024 the Belgian presidency of the Council decided to activate the Council's Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) arrangements in information-sharing mode to provide political decision-makers with a clear picture of developments as regards foreign interference in the European elections, contribute to preparedness and support a fast and coordinated response at EU level.