EU Lawmaker Urges Creation of New Agency to Combat Russian Disinformation and Protect Elections
Tomas Tobé, a prominent lawmaker from the European People’s Party (EPP) and rapporteur for the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield, has proposed the launch of an independent entity tasked with addressing foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Euractiv.
The proposal, outlined in a working document released this week, calls for the agency to serve as a central coordination hub for EU institutions and member states. It would work in tandem with an existing FIMI unit within the European External Action Service (EEAS) and gradually expand its operational capacity.
Tobé envisions the body as a “European center of excellence” capable of mounting rapid, decisive responses to external digital threats. He cited national efforts, such as France’s VIGINUM agency and Sweden’s Psychological Defence Agency, as potential models for the EU-level initiative.
The initiative comes as the European Commission prepares its “Shield of European Democracy” strategy, aimed at bolstering resilience against hybrid threats, including those linked to pro-Kremlin actors. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has pledged new tools to counter foreign manipulation in the digital sphere. A draft of Tobé’s proposal is expected to shape the Commission’s future legislation. The final report will be released in 2026.
The urgency of the initiative is underscored by data showing that in the run-up to the 2024 European elections, 42 foreign interference incidents were recorded. Meanwhile, a recent VIGINUM report revealed that Russian-linked actors carried out nearly 80 cyber disinformation operations between 2023 and early 2025, primarily targeting Ukraine and its Western allies, including France.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digitalisation Krzysztof Gawkowski said that the country is facing an unprecedented attempt by Russia to interfere in the presidential election.