PLATFORMA Eastern Partnership Cluster mobilises on disinformation, capacity-building and EU priorities

Strengthening local resilience to disinformation, advancing capacity-building cooperation, and shaping key advocacy messages for upcoming EU policy debates were at the core an interactive exchange during PLATFORMA 6th Eastern Partnership (EaP) Cluster Meeting, held online with partners on 20 May 2026.

Local governments on the frontline against disinformation

A central highlight of the meeting was the discussion on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), introduced by the European External Action Service (EEAS). As disinformation continues to evolve in scale and sophistication — including through the use of social media and AI-generated content — participants discussed its direct impact on local democracy, public trust and citizen engagement.

The exchange made clear that local and regional governments are on the frontline, often confronted with hostile narratives circulating within their communities. Participants shared concerns about the difficulty of reaching citizens already exposed to alternative narratives, and the need to adapt communication approaches to different audiences — from younger generations active online to older populations more vulnerable to misinformation.

The discussion pointed to the importance of media literacy, tailored communication strategies, and practical tools for local authorities, as well as closer coordination with EU and national actors. A key message emerged: building resilience to disinformation starts at local level.

Strong demand for cooperation and capacity-building

The meeting also presented the results of PLATFORMA’s needs assessment with partners in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, confirming a strong interest in peer-to-peer cooperation and practical capacity-building.

Participants highlighted the value of peer learning, trainings, study visits and thematic workshops, alongside support for policy analysis, advocacy and understanding EU legislation. The results also underlined the need for more tailored, context-sensitive support and better coordination of activities across the region.

Shaping the debate on the EU’s future engagement

Looking ahead, partners also exchanged on key messages for upcoming PLATFORMA Political Council discussions (9 June 2026), particularly in relation to the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2028–2034), as well as the Global Gateway and the Black Sea strategy.

The discussion highlighted the need to ensure that local and regional governments are better integrated into EU funding priorities and decision-making processes, and that future EU instruments support strong local democracy, capacity-building and citizen engagement in the Eastern Partnership region.

At a time of geopolitical uncertainty and growing information challenges, the discussion clearly showed that empowering local and regional governments is essential — both to strengthen democratic resilience and to deliver meaningful results on the ground across the Eastern Partnership.

(Photo by Kaja Sariwating on Unsplash)