OSCE Permanent Council No. 1489 Vienna, 26 September 2024

1. The European Union once again strongly condemns Russia's malicious activities, including foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), disinformation, and malicious cyber activities. Since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has engaged in a systematic international campaign of disinformation, information manipulation, and distortion of facts in an attempt to justify and support its war of aggression against Ukraine, while also aiming to enhance its strategy of destabilising its neighbouring countries, the EU and its Member States.
2. Like other Russian state-owned media outlets, Russia Today/RT is under the permanent control of the Russian Federation's authorities and plays an instrumental role in advancing and supporting Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. In Helsinki 1975, we all committed to refrain from propaganda for wars of aggression. However, this is precisely how Russia is using Russia Today/RT and Sputnik, constituting a significant and direct threat to our public order and security. Effective from 6 March 2022, the EU imposed restrictive measures by suspending, inter alia, the broadcasting activities of RT/Russia Today in the EU, or those directed at the EU. These measures, consistent with fundamental rights and freedoms, will remain in place until the aggression against Ukraine ends, and Russia and its affiliated outlets end their campaign of disinformation and information manipulation directed against the EU and its Member States.

3. The recent reports by international partners about RT's expanded role-not merely as a media outlet but as an actor involved in cyber and information operations, and military procurement-underscore the need for comprehensive vigilance.

6. In addition, exposing the tactics, techniques and procedures of malign foreign actors is one of the best instruments to counter information manipulation. Through utilising the EUvsDisinfo platform, which has the world's largest publicly available database of pro-Kremlin disinformation cases, we seek to limit the impact of Russian attacks on our societies. We also work closely with academia, civil society, the tech industry, and international partners to better understand and counter FIMI. The promotion of transparency, accountability, and the protection of human rights will remain at the forefront of our efforts.
7. The EU actively supports the development of international principles and norms to address FIMI, including disinformation, by promoting responsible state behaviour in the online environment and the commitment to refrain from using the Internet or online platforms to undermine the rules-based international order, international law, universal human rights as well as democratic values, processes, and institutions. The EU is determined to engage with all partners to advance this goal, including within the OSCE.
The Candidate Countries NORTH MACEDONIA*, MONTENEGRO*, ALBANIA*, UKRAINE, the REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA, BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA*, and GEORGIA, the EFTA countries ICELAND and LIECHTENSTEIN, members of the European Economic Area, as well as ANDORRA and SAN MARINO align themselves with this statement.
* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
4. The latest EEAS Report on FIMI Threats, published in January 2024, exemplifies how foreign information manipulation and interference are used as a strategic policy tool in Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, with a negative impact extending beyond Ukraine's borders. While Ukraine remains the country that is most targeted, Russia's conduct and rhetoric demonstrate a consistent pattern of aggressive behaviour toward its neighbours and other OSCE participating States, often employing hybrid methods to advance its destabilising objectives. Russia must stop its state-controlled information manipulation and other hybrid and malicious activities and uphold its international obligations and commitments.
5. The EU and its Member States will not tolerate activities that aim to weaken societal cohesion and influence democratic processes. Freedom of expression and the free flow of information are cornerstones of democratic societies. In this context, preventing the dissemination of disinformation that undermines the rules-based international order, international law, peace, security, and democratic governance is crucial. The EU remains committed to defending these values while countering any attempts to subvert them. We are determined to make use of the full spectrum of the EU's instruments to prevent, detect, deter and respond to Russia's malicious behaviour and to invest further in situational awareness, societal and democratic resilience, foreign policy instruments, and regulatory tools. As part of the EU's security and defence strategy, the EU has implemented measures and toolboxes to detect, address, and counter malicious activities such as foreign information manipulation and interference, disinformation, and cyberattacks, including by placing on EU sanctions lists individuals and entities responsible for these activities.

6. In addition, exposing the tactics, techniques and procedures of malign foreign actors is one of the best instruments to counter information manipulation. Through utilising the EUvsDisinfo platform, which has the world's largest publicly available database of pro-Kremlin disinformation cases, we seek to limit the impact of Russian attacks on our societies. We also work closely with academia, civil society, the tech industry, and international partners to better understand and counter FIMI. The promotion of transparency, accountability, and the protection of human rights will remain at the forefront of our efforts.
7. The EU actively supports the development of international principles and norms to address FIMI, including disinformation, by promoting responsible state behaviour in the online environment and the commitment to refrain from using the Internet or online platforms to undermine the rules-based international order, international law, universal human rights as well as democratic values, processes, and institutions. The EU is determined to engage with all partners to advance this goal, including within the OSCE.
The Candidate Countries NORTH MACEDONIA*, MONTENEGRO*, ALBANIA*, UKRAINE, the REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA, BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA*, and GEORGIA, the EFTA countries ICELAND and LIECHTENSTEIN, members of the European Economic Area, as well as ANDORRA and SAN MARINO align themselves with this statement.
* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.