EPP local and regional leaders participating in the plenary session of Enlargement Days held a debate on" Communicating Enlargement in a Challenging Information Landscape" called for stronger action to counter disinformation, greater support for local and regional authorities, and a renewed commitment to a credible enlargement process based on European values. Enlargement Days brings together representatives from EU institutions, national governments, local and regional authorities, civil society and candidate countries to discuss the opportunities and challenges of EU enlargement. During the debate, EPP-CoR representatives highlighted how disinformation campaigns seek to divide societies, undermine trust in democratic institutions and weaken support for the European project. Speakers stressed that local and regional authorities are at the forefront of building resilience against manipulation, delivering tangible benefits of European integration and strengthening citizens' confidence in the enlargement process. They called for greater investment in democratic participation, transparency, media literacy and local development as essential tools to counter false narratives and reinforce Europe's unity.
Jelena Drenjanin (SE/EPP), Chair of the Committee of the Regions' Working Group on Relations with Türkiye and Member of the Municipal Council of Huddinge Municipality, shared Sweden's experience with large-scale disinformation campaigns targeting public authorities and local institutions, warning that seemingly absurd online narratives can quickly become a threat to democratic systems and public servants. "We have to inform our citizens. We have to make awareness. And sometimes things on social media look crazy or ridiculous, but it can turn out really bad and system-threatening."
Lorenca Bejko, Councillor to the Mayor of Memaliaj Municipal Council, Albania, and member of the Committee of the Regions' Young Elected Politicians (YEP) network, stressed that the most effective response to misinformation is demonstrating the concrete benefits of European integration through successful local projects and visible improvements in citizens' daily lives. "When we discuss fighting misinformation in the enlargement process, our strongest weapon is not digital defence. Indeed, it's a concrete reality of local progress. Right now, southern Albania is transforming from sustainable agritourism to protecting the Vjosa River ecosystem. EU funding is the visible engine behind this change. The EU flag is already planted on the successful local projects that we are handling, proving to our citizens that the European pathway is real and rewarding."
Csaba Borboly (RO/EPP), Chair of the European Committee of the Regions' Working Group on Relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Vice-President of Harghita County Council, underlined that municipalities and regions across Bosnia and Herzegovina are ready to contribute to the country's European future but require the necessary resources and political support to do so. "Local authorities are really ready, but they need resources." He said that the Growth and Reform Facility holds 400 million euros but that money is blocked because BiH has no coordinator and agreements are not ratified. "Local authorities implemented the reforms. It is a political failure at the top that costs citizens at the bottom." he concluded.
Sergii Kolotylo, Councillor and Secretary of the Council in Kuty, Ukraine, and member of the Committee of the Regions' Young Elected Politicians (YEP) network, highlighted the importance of involving younger generations in democratic decision-making and strengthening local democratic governance as a response to foreign disinformation campaigns. "The best way to fight Russian disinformation is to recruit young people in politics and decision-making and in local information strategy. Transparency, accountability, and democracy are the main shields on the local and national level right after the armed forces of Ukraine."
Nikola Dobroslavić (HR/EPP), co-Chair of the CoR-Montenegro Joint Consultative Committee and member of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Assembly, reaffirmed the EPP's support for the European aspirations of candidate countries while stressing that accession must remain firmly anchored in the fulfilment of European standards and values. "The door to the European Union should remain open to all countries that genuinely wish to join. They should have the support of all of us in that process. However, all accession criteria must be fulfilled, because no country can become part of the club while refusing to accept the standards and values upon which that club is built."
The discussion concluded with a shared message from EPP local and regional leaders: the success of EU enlargement depends not only on reforms at national level, but also on strong local democracy, informed citizens and resilient communities capable of resisting disinformation and embracing the opportunities offered by the European project.