The 8th edition of the Bucharest Security Conference, organized by the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA), took place on November 29-30. The conference is one of the major events in Central and Eastern Europe, providing analysis and debate on the latest developments in the political and security environment of the countries in the region.
Dr. Rumena Filipova participated in the panel “Threats of Foreign Malign Influence in South East Europe. What type of legislative measures could help?”, which was moderated by Dr. Miruna Butnaru-Troncotă (SNSPA) and also featured Dr. Ruth Ferrero-Turion (Universidad Complutense de Madrid); Dr. Donika EMINI (CiviKOS Platform); Daniel Pascal (SNSPA) and Dr. Marius Ghincea (EUI/ Quartet Institute). The presentation given by IGA’s chairperson focused on the ways in which the intermeshment of law and politics, legal grey zones and diverse legal regimes represent challenges undermining the creation of more robust legal approaches to the influence exercised by Russia and China in the region.
The panel discussions raised issues concerning the counter-disinformation efforts mounted in Moldova to stem the tide of Russian propaganda ahead of the Moldovan presidential election in October 2024; the local and international factors impeding the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans as well as the region’s diminished resilience to foreign authoritarian influence; and the employment of the pre-bunking approach, strategies for de-monetization of disinformation and robust regulation of social media as effective solutions for countering propaganda.