European Parliament creates a committee on foreign interference and disinformation

MEPs voted for setting up a special committee on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU, including disinformation. The new committee will be tasked, among others, with thoroughly analysing the investigations that showed that crucial electoral rules were breached or circumvented. According to a press release of the European Parliament, 548 MEPs voted for the setting up of the committee, 83 were against, while 56 abstained.

The new committee will have to identify possible areas that would require legislative and non-legislative actions vis-à-vis social media platforms, to suggest coordinated action at EU level for tackling hybrid threats, and to counter information campaigns and strategic communication of malign third countries that harm the EU.

European Parliament can create special committees to deal with specific topics. The special committee on foreign interference including disinformation has a 12-month term, which can potentially be extended. It will be composed of 33 MEPs, a list of members will be announced in a subsequent plenary session. The creation of the committee was proposed by the Conference of Presidents (president and chairs of political groups).