EU ‘Defending Democracy’ Debate on Countering Foreign Influence – POLITICO

This week, we debate the EU’s latest attempt to tackle foreign influence with its upcoming “democracy defense package”, which some in Brussels say could have unintended consequences.

POLITICO’s Suzanne Lynch speaks with the European Commission’s Special Adviser on Foreign Interference, Ivana Karásková, a Czech scholar and expert on Chinese influence. It gives an overview of the degree of foreign influence in the European Union. She also explains the rationale for a specific element of this package, which raises concerns, particularly among NGOs: the potential rules that would oblige civil society organizations to report whether they receive donor funds from countries third.

Next, we are joined by Sarah Wheaton, POLITICO’s Chief Policy Correspondent and author of our EU Influence newsletter, and Nicholas Aiossa, Deputy Director and Head of Policy and Advocacy at Transparency International EU. They delve into concerns that this package will have unintended consequences for European democracy – and discuss the best tools the Commission could consider for greater transparency in EU advocacy and lobbying.