How to watch the Committee on European Democracy Shield (special committee) (EUDS)

Opening and Commission presentation: European Democracy Shield

Michael McGrath

The Chair opens the special committee meeting and Commissioner McGrath presents the European Democracy Shield and the planned Centre for Democratic Resilience, detailing its rationale, structure, links to existing EU tools and forthcoming work on FIMI, DSA implementation and election‑related safeguards.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting: agenda and context
2. Commissioner McGrath: Democracy Shield and Center setupMichael McGrath
3. Commissioner: concrete projects, FIMI blueprint and DSA linkMichael McGrath

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MEP questions and Commission on Belarus sanctions

MEPs question experts on Interpol misuse, business risks and third‑country leverage regarding Belarus, followed by the Commission detailing EU–US/G7 sanctions coordination, justification for maintaining and strengthening restrictive measures, and procedural closure of the agenda item.

In this chapter

1. MEP questions on Interpol, partners and business risks
2. Belarus sanctions coordination and agenda closure

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DG FISMA: Belarus sanctions framework and impacts

DG FISMA details the EU sanctions regime on Belarus, including its legal basis, evolution in response to repression and hybrid actions, scope of listings and sectoral measures, and tools against circumvention affecting economic operators and alignment with the Russia regime.

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Hearing opening and ISANS assessment of Belarusian TNR

The chair frames the hearing on Belarusian transnational repression, then ISANS defines the phenomenon, details the Belarus-specific toolbox and enablers, and presents policy recommendations including ICC referral and EU legislative and institutional responses.

In this chapter

1. Chair introduction and scope of TNR hearing
2. ISANS: defining TNR and Belarus-specific context
3. Belarus TNR toolbox and international enablers
4. ISANS policy recommendations and ICC referral

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Chair: closure of public hearing and shift in‑camera

The Chair formally ends the public session, announces a break and the subsequent in‑camera exchange with the Armenian ambassador, and orders the departure of all non‑authorized participants.

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NewsGuard and EEAS: religious narratives and foreign influence

External experts and EEAS detail how religious and ‘traditional values’ narratives are used in Moldova and Armenia, the role of Armenian civil society and Church structures, diaspora‑targeted operations, and current mandate limits on monitoring Iran and U.S.-focused campaigns.

In this chapter

1. NewsGuard responses: religious narratives, civil society, Iran and U.S.
2. EEAS responses: Moldovan lessons, Church leverage and mandate limits

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MEP questions on lessons, civil society, religion, Iran and U.S. role

MEPs ask how lessons from Moldova guide EU assistance to Armenia, how Armenian civil society and the Church feature in interference dynamics, and whether Iran and narratives about the U.S. role in regional security are part of the disinformation environment.

In this chapter

1. Chair and EPP: questions on lessons and civil society
2. ECR and others: religion, Iran and U.S. role

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EEAS assessment of Russian FIMI and EU support to Armenia

The EEAS outlines the four phases of Russia’s foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) against Armenia linked to its EU integration path, then explains EU cross‑institution coordination, timelines and concrete support measures to bolster Armenia’s resilience and election integrity.

In this chapter

1. EEAS: four phases of Russian FIMI against Armenia
2. EEAS: EU coordination and support to Armenia

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Russian influence operation Storm 1516: NewsGuard evidence

NewsGuard presents the structure and tactics of Storm 1516, detailing how AI‑driven Russian influence operations target Armenia with fabricated corruption and nuclear‑waste narratives, cloned media brands and spoofed NGOs, and how these false stories are amplified, including by major AI chatbots.

In this chapter

1. NewsGuard: Storm 1516 campaign overview
2. NewsGuard case study: fabricated French nuclear bribery scandal
3. NewsGuard: AI chatbots amplifying disinformation

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Opening, agenda and political context

The Chair formally opens the meeting, adopts the agenda and minutes, and sets out the session’s focus on Russian interference in Armenia ahead of the June elections, recalling Parliament’s previous resolution and Armenia’s regional and democratic context.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting and agenda adoption
2. Chair: context on Russian interference in Armenia

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