Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI) and expert committees

Under the authority of the Committee of Ministers, the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI) steers the Council of Europe’s work in the fields of freedom of expression, media, internet governance and other information society-related issues and oversees the work on personal data protection.

On all questions within its area of expertise and taking due account of relevant transversal perspectives, the CDMSI advises the Committee of Ministers and facilitates and promotes co-operation among Council of Europe member States by developing common policies, reviewing their implementation and fulfilling any other activity which might be assigned to it.

Voltar High-level conference in Moldova advances action on disinformation and FIMI under the New Democratic Pact for Europe

(Seulement en anglais)

Advancing the objectives of the New Democratic Pact for Europe, the Council of Europe convened a High-Level Conference on Media Literacy and Information Integrity: Building Resilience to Disinformation and FIMI in Europe, bringing together key European and international stakeholders to strengthen collective responses to disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).

Organised under the auspices of the Moldovan Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the conference provided a platform for member States and partners to exchange experiences and identify concrete ways to build a more resilient, trustworthy and secure information environment across Europe.

Opening the conference, the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, stressed that disinformation and foreign interference are no longer episodic but represent a persistent “new normal”, being increasingly used to divide societies, weaken trust in institutions and influence democratic choices across Europe.

In his address, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, emphasised that safeguarding the information space has become a matter of democratic security. He underlined that the challenge today is not only access to information, but also what people choose to believe, stressing that democracies must be able to protect themselves against coordinated manipulation while upholding human rights and the rule of law. He also pointed to ongoing work – under the New Democratic Pact for Europe – towards a new legal instrument to address foreign information manipulation and interference.

Delivering the keynote speech, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, underlined that a human rights-based approach is essential to counter disinformation, given its impact on privacy, electoral integrity and the protection of vulnerable groups.

Main takeaways

Discussions throughout the conference reaffirmed that information integrity is a cornerstone of democratic security. Participants highlighted that disinformation and FIMI are systemic and persistent threats in the “new normal”, designed to distort public debate, polarise societies and undermine democratic institutions. Strengthening resilience must therefore be a continuous effort, not limited to moments of heightened vulnerability, such as elections. At the same time, speakers stressed that responses must remain firmly grounded in freedom of expression and media freedom, in line with Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

A central focus of the conference was the role of media and information literacy (MIL) as a key pillar of resilience in an increasingly complex and permanently evolving information environment. Empowering individuals to critically assess information, recognise manipulation and understand digital environments was identified as essential to sustaining democratic participation and trust. Participants also emphasised the importance of independent, pluralistic and sustainable media ecosystems as a frontline defence against disinformation.

The conference further explored how digital technologies, including algorithmic amplification and AI-generated content, are reshaping the information landscape – creating both opportunities and new risks that require transparency, accountability and human-rights-based responses.

The conference also launched two key policy documents adopted by the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI), as part of its contribution to the New Democratic Pact for Europe: National Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Strategies – Practical Steps and Indicators and Resisting Disinformation: 10 Building Blocks to Strengthen Information Integrity. These provide concrete guidance to support member States in developing comprehensive responses to disinformation and FIMI.

Presenting the conclusions of the conference, Roberto Olla, Head of the Council of Europe Democratic Institutions and Freedoms Department, emphasised that strengthening information integrity requires a whole-of-society approach, bringing together public authorities, media, regulators, technology companies, educators and civil society, alongside strong international cooperation.

The conference in Chișinău marks an important step in translating the goals of the New Democratic Pact for Europe into concrete action, reinforcing a shared European commitment to protect democratic values and strengthen resilience in the face of disinformation and FIMI.

Learn more about the conference

Speech by the Secretary General

Conclusions by Mr Roberto Olla

Chișinău, Moldova 20 March 2026

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"As Chair of the CDMSI, it is an honour to lead and to serve a Steering Committee whose work lies at the heart of the Council of Europe’s mission. Through the strong expertise, diverse perspectives and close cooperation between its members, the CDMSI has created a rich legacy of pioneering initiatives that have shaped European standards in the fields of freedom of expression, media policy, and the information society.

In a time of profound technological, social, and democratic change, our work is firmly grounded in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which enshrines the right to freedom of expression and information as a cornerstone of democratic societies.

Guided by this fundamental principle, we remain committed to protecting freedom of expression, promoting media pluralism and independence, supporting the safety of journalists, and addressing the challenges and opportunities of the digital environment."

Aikaterini Polyzou, Chair of the CDMSI

CDMSI: List of members

List of observers to the CDMSI

How to become observer to CDMSI

Together with representatives of Council of Europe members states, steering committees can benefit from the participation of other organisations as observers, including “Civil society and representatives of business, technical, professional and academic communities”( without the right to vote and without defrayal of expenses).

Some criteria have been defined for granting observer status to the steering committee. The organisations (associations, foundations, NGOs) should demonstrate:

a broad experience in the areas of competence of the CDMSI – or its subordinate bodies;
an ability to make an effective and high quality contribution to its activities (necessary human and material resources;
a representation at a Europe-wide, and where relevant a broader, level.