The European Parliament has pointed out this Tuesday that Russia is the "main threat" to democracy on the continent and has urged to strengthen the instruments of the European Union (EU) to face foreign interference and disinformation, also demanding greater involvement from digital platforms against the use of 'bots' in electoral processes.
With 420 favorable votes, 220 against, and 26 abstentions, the plenary of the Eurochamber, gathered in Strasbourg (France), has given the green light to the conclusions of the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield --established in December 2024--. In this document, the MEPs warn that external interference and disinformation put at risk the "very essence of the European project" and judge the current reaction of the Twenty-Seven as insufficient.
The text particularly focuses on Russia for its "frequent" hybrid attacks against critical EU infrastructure, which include cyberattacks, sabotage, arson, espionage, and signal interference. It also points out hostile activities from Belarus, China, Iran, and North Korea against the community bloc.
A European center to coordinate the response
In order to articulate a response at the EU level, the resolution supports the initiative presented by the Commission in November 2025 to create a European Center for Democratic Resilience, with a "clear mandate," "own budget," and full operational capacity. This body would serve to strengthen cooperation between European institutions and national authorities and to combat falsehoods and attempts at manipulation driven by third states.
The MEPs also call for expanding the EU sanctions regime to those who facilitate disinformation campaigns or contribute to circumventing the restrictions already in force, while condemning the "blacklists" of officials, MEPs, and journalists drawn up by Moscow for political purposes.
Considering that "these attacks" occur largely "in the digital realm," the Parliament demands that the major platforms take "their responsibility" and strengthen their mechanisms to curb electoral interference through 'bots' and safeguard public debate, emphasizing that freedom of expression and information are rights that "protect people, not machines."
Elections, media, and strategic autonomy
To safeguard electoral processes, the report advocates treating electoral infrastructures as critical infrastructures, applying the principle of "know your donor" to political contributions made with cryptocurrencies, and adopting specific measures against malicious counterfeiting and misleading advertisements.
The document also prioritizes the protection of "free and independent" media and calls for stable long-term funding to guarantee press freedom and investigative journalism, in addition to promoting media literacy and Artificial Intelligence among the citizenry.
In parallel, the Parliament demands reducing the EU's dependence on technologies controlled by third countries in sensitive areas, with special attention to American companies and Chinese computer equipment, and proposes a balanced strategy of "buying European products" for investments in critical infrastructures.
Likewise, the MEPs call for strengthening the population's preparedness for crisis scenarios through large-scale periodic drills and a common alert application for the entire EU. They also propose that February 24, the date of the start of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, becomes "European Preparedness Day".
Metsola: "we will not be intimidated or divided"
After the vote, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, highlighted that the Eurochamber has sent "the strongest signal" that it will be "relentless in defending" European democracies against external threats and interference.
In a press appearance in Strasbourg, Metsola stated that the adoption of the report "could not be more timely," coinciding with International Democracy Day and occurring after a drone attack near the Polish border and recent incursions by other aircraft into European airspace.
According to the president, these incidents illustrate "how far hostile actors are willing to go" and show "increasingly sophisticated" threats directed "not only at our infrastructures but at our societies, our institutions, and our people."
Metsola insisted that the defense of the democratic system requires "a collective European response" because "hybrid warfare does not stop at national borders." "At a time when many are trying to sow distrust and destabilize us, the response of this Chamber today resonates loud and clear: we will not be intimidated or divided," she concluded, emphasizing that Europeans are "stronger" when they remain united.