Countering information manipulation in CSDP

On 25 May, the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) and the French Presidency of the EU, with the support of the European External Action Service, organised a roundtable on “Countering Information Manipulation in CSDP”.

In line with the objectives of the Strategic Compass for Security and Defense, the event focused on tools, means and processes to improve the resilience of CSDP missions vis-à-vis foreign interference and manipulation of information, from a pragmatic perspective, with a specific focus on Africa in comparison with other regions. EUISS Director Gustav Lindstrom provided opening remarks, highlighting the work done by the EUISS in this area, namely the recent Brief “Rising Hybrid Threats in Africa”.

Panel 1, moderated by Senior Analyst Giovanni Faleg, provided a retrospective analysis of information manipulation with regards to civilian and military CSDP missions and operations in Africa, identifying lessons from the field.

Panel 2, moderated by Senior Analyst Nad’a Kovalčíková, discussed possible new tools and other potential ways forward to enable more systematic and effective mechanism to develop and/or improve detection, countering and potential prevention of information manipulation, and enhance the CSDP missions’ resilience.

The event took place in Brussels under the patronage of the Trio Presidency (France, Czech Republic, Sweden).