Bulgaria Seeks EU Assistance to Counter Disinformation Ahead of April 19 Elections
Bulgaria has requested technical and expert assistance from the European Commission to combat disinformation and foreign interference in advance of the country’s early parliamentary elections on April 19. The request, initiated by Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Nadezhda Neynsky, aims to activate the EU’s rapid response system designed to support member states facing pre-election threats.
The rapid response system connects tech companies, non-governmental organizations, and fact-checkers to quickly identify and address potential disinformation campaigns and interference attempts. This system was previously activated last week in response to parliamentary elections in Hungary on April 12.
Foreign Ministry Establishes Coordination Mechanism
In parallel with the request to the EU, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has established a temporary coordination mechanism to counter disinformation and combat hybrid threats related to the upcoming elections. This mechanism will be operational starting March 23, anticipating an increase in disinformation efforts.
The coordination mechanism will be led by Ambassador Maria Spasova, with oversight provided by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Velizar Shalamanov. It will function as an interdepartmental working group, integrating the efforts of various MFA structural units to provide a structured and unified response to hybrid threats, external interference, and information manipulation.
Key tasks of the working group include centralized monitoring and analysis of disinformation and interference, preparation of risk assessments and analytical materials for the ministry’s leadership – including regarding voting abroad – and the development of a coordinated communication strategy.
International Cooperation
The MFA will also collaborate with international partners and structures within the European Union and NATO. Cooperation with civil organizations and academic institutions is also planned.
The government recently reported an increase in reports of electoral irregularities during the initial briefing of the Coordinating Council for election preparation.