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Ahead of Lithuania’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the EU presented a collaborative model that includes Lithuanian institutions, think tanks, non-governmental organisations, data analytics start-ups, and public initiatives.

“For the past 35 years, Lithuania has been a testing ground for russia’s propaganda machine, which is why the influence of hostile countries poses a significant threat. In Lithuania, both civil society and the public sector are working together to counter russia’s constant attempts to rewrite history, undermine our statehood, and erode trust in the state. We hope that the European Shield of Democracy will recognise FIMI as an economic and security threat and will mobilise EU institutions and Member States to take proactive measures to defend the people, values, and history of Europe,” said Ambassador Nerijus Aleksiejūnas, Lithuania’s Permanent Representative to the EU, as he welcomed diplomats, journalists, and EU and NATO officials in Brus“Ten years ago, Lithuania urged the EU to take decisive action against ongoing disinformation and manipulation. As a result of our efforts and those of our partners, the European Council conclusions adopted in 2015 led to the creation of a strategic communications task force and greater coordination among EU institutions and Member States. While russia and Belarus continue their attempts to manipulate and divide, the resilience and determination of EU Member States and institutions to counter disinformation are increasing,” said Ambassador N. Aleksiejūnas, summarising Lithuania’s contribution.bution.

During the event, Fiona Knab-Lunny, Head of Cabinet to European Commissioner Michael McGrath, and Matthew Reece, Director of Policy Planning and Strategic Communication at the European External Action Service, outlined progress in developing the European Democracy Shield. Lithuania’s experience was shared by Mindaugas Lašas, Director of the Department of Communication and Cultural Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with representatives from Repsense, Debunk.eu, the Civil Resilience Initiative, and Stratcomm Foxes.