FIMI-RESIST: Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference - Robust European Safeguards and Innovative Systems against Threats

This proposal addresses the growing challenge of disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), which undermines democratic institutions and social cohesion across Europe. While numerous EU-funded initiatives have produced valuable knowledge and tools, their uptake is fragmented, usability is often limited, and networks remain siloed. FIMI-RESIST’s primary objective is to strengthen European resilience by bridging these gaps and ensuring that prior investments deliver lasting value. To achieve this, the project will first consolidate and systematise outputs from past Horizon projects and EDMO hubs. A core activity, directly relevant to the work programme, is the rigorous usability testing and gap analysis of existing tools, assessing their performance and robustness against evolving AI-driven threats. This evidence-based approach is powered by a uniquely diverse consortium that bridges critical gaps in the European counter-disinformation ecosystem. It brings together leading AI research centers (TUB, KInIT, CERTH, UvA) to lead technical validation, frontline media organizations (Deutsche Welle, VoxUkraine) and civil society actors (Cyfluence) to ensure real-world relevance, specialized SMEs (Logically, Factiverse, Exorde) to drive innovation, and direct engagement with policymakers (member of the European Parliament Alexandra Geese) to guarantee actionable outcomes. The findings will directly inform our two other key objectives: providing tailored advisory support via a dedicated help desk and delivering a comprehensive programme of capacity-building through co-designed training and toolkits. Finally, the project will develop an integrated meta-framework and evidence-based policy recommendations, creating a durable, cross-sectoral network. This transforms fragmented research into a coherent, operational ecosystem that empowers stakeholders and strengthens Europe's collective capacity to counter multimodal disinformation and FIMI.