On 28 February 2025, the Countering Foreign Interference (CFI) project held a workshop at the Voices Festival in Zagreb, Croatia. The session, titled “Countering Foreign Interference in the Western Balkans and Beyond”, explored the persistent threats posed by FIMI to democratic processes and social cohesion in the region and broader security landscape.
Participants examined how foreign actors exploit domestic political shifts, societal divisions, marginalised vulnerable groups, and erode trust in media and institutions. The workshop provided insights into identifying these threats, EU policy approach to addressing foreign interference and understanding the tactics and narratives behind hostile operations. The interactive workshop uncovered ways to mobilise a whole-of-society response to mitigate their impact and bolster societal resilience.
The CFI workshop was part of the broader Voices Festival, the “European Festival of Journalism and Media Literacy”, dedicated to reshaping the relationship with information and the evolution of practices to address information manipulation in today’s rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape.
Speakers included:
- Nad’a Kovalčíková, European Union Institute for Security Studies
- Paolo Cesarini, European University Institute, Florence School of Transnational Governance
- Bojana Zorić, European Union Institute for Security Studies
- Carolina Scarton, University of Sheffield
- Vassilis Ntousas, German Marshall Fund of the United States