Greece and EU Nations Call for Action Against Foreign Election Interference

Greece, France, Germany, and nine other European Union countries have urged the European Commission to use its powers under the Digital Services Act (DSA) to safeguard European elections from foreign interference, according to a letter signed by their ministers.

The letter, co-signed by European affairs ministers from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Cyprus, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Romania, Slovenia, and Spain, calls on the Commission to establish a dedicated EU body to combat foreign information manipulation and interference.

“The escalating threats of foreign interference and disruptive interventions in public debates during key electoral events represent a direct challenge to our stability and sovereignty,” the letter stated, stressing the urgency of coordinated action.

EU diplomats indicate that interference, particularly from Russia and China, has been a growing concern. Germany, which faces snap elections on February 23, has already set up a task force to counter potential foreign attempts to sway the vote. Recent incidents, such as Elon Musk‘s appearance at a far-right German election campaign event and allegations against TikTok for failing to curb election interference in Romania, have heightened concerns.

Poland, which holds presidential elections in May, has also warned of Russian efforts to influence its electoral process.

“We urge the Commission to lead by fully leveraging the powers granted under the Digital Services Act (DSA),” the ministers wrote. The DSA mandates major online platforms, including X, Facebook, and TikTok, to moderate and remove harmful content, with non-compliance risking fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue.

With key elections approaching, EU leaders stress the importance of decisive action to protect democratic integrity across the bloc.

(Source: Reuters)