More than 71% of Europeans regularly encounter ‘fake news’ (Eurobarometer, 2020). In an increasingly expansive, intricate, and contested digital landscape, re-evaluating internet safeguards and their connection with the European public is crucial for safeguarding European democracies. However, this necessitates active engagement from all sectors of society in formulating a comprehensive counter-disinformation plan and solutions.
Against this backdrop, the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) hosted its Policy Conference, “From Elections to Everyday: Strategies against Disinformation in the EU”, on February 2, 2024. The conference aimed to meaningfully involve experts, EU policy-makers and citizens of diverse backgrounds, including young people, in a forward-looking discussion on strategies to combat disinformation in the European Union (EU).
With the 2024 European elections approaching and within the framework of the Strategic Agenda, there is an interest in addressing the informational vulnerabilities stemming from disinformation, affecting both voters and the democratic process across a wide range of critical thematic and policy areas. These areas include electoral processes, climate change, migration, foreign interference, and LGBTIQ+.
Introductory Remarks:
Panel Discussion: “Our shared responsibility: Multilayered strategies to tackling disinformation during and beyond elections”
This panel was moderated by Isabelle Kumar.
“Youth in Action” Policy Proposals and Q&A
Youth Ambassadors and participants in TEPSA’s ‘Youth in Action’ workshop presented their recommendations in five critical policy areas related to disinformation. This session was moderated by Sonia Chabane. Learn more about the event and recommendations presented in our complementary video!
Concluding Remarks
RADAR (Raising Awareness on Disinformation: Achieving Resilience), TEPSA’s cutting-edge project, forged connections between citizens across Europe, experts, journalists, national and EU policy-makers to advocate for counter-disinformation initiatives and raise awareness of disinformation within the EU. ‘From Elections to Everyday’ served as RADAR’s culminating event, offering a public platform for debate at the heart of EU policy-making with relevant stakeholders countering disinformation in Europe.
Over a year and a half, TEPSA has coordinated RADAR, an EU-funded project (CERV Action grant), in collaboration with five other leading research institutes within the TEPSA network: Österreichische Gesellschaft für Europapolitik (ÖGFE), Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), Institut für Europäische Politik (IEP), and the Jagiellonian University. To delve deeper into our project and the background setting the stage for this conference, visit this page.
