Subject 01
Ursula von der Leyen
President of the European Commission
- On file
- Announced a European Democracy Shield to protect Europe's information space.
- Condemnation
- None on file
- Status
- Shield deployed. Facing the other way.
Ref. ORIS/2026/DISINFO-0707
Classification: Public · Politely ignored
Registry live
Office for the Registration of Institutional Silence
Unit F.I.M.I. — Directorate for Reactions Under Consideration
Entry No. 1 · Time elapsed while the situation is being closely monitored
days
since Europe was told what not to discuss at its own conference on foreign interference. A reaction is being drafted. Allegedly.
Still on display
00Hours
00Minutes
00Seconds
Counting from 07.10.2026, 00:00 Vilnius time (EEST) — opening day of #Disinfo2026.
- Senior Commission officials who spoke out
- 0
- Sponsors who removed their logos
- 3
- Civil society signatories
- 70+
- Parliament resolution
- PENDING
Several are understood to be “following the matter closely”.
Logos withdrawn. EU funding kept. Courage under review.
Letter received, acknowledged, filed under “Noted”.
Expected between the next plenary and the heat death of the universe.
Subject files · Persons who could have said something
Four members of the College whose portfolios cover the matter. Public condemnations registered by this Office to date: 0 of 4.
For comparison, a member of the German Bundestag managed it on day one: We need brave researchers and civil society in our fight against disinformation. EU institutions and governments should not cave under US pressure.
Anna Lührmann, 08.10.2026.
Subject 01
Subject 02
Kaja Kallas
High Representative, Vice-President of the Commission
- On file
- Heads the EEAS, which coined “FIMI” and then took its logo off a FIMI conference.
- Condemnation
- None on file
- Status
- Deeply concerned, in principle. Awaiting a suitable foreign government.
Subject 03
Michael McGrath
Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law
- On file
- In charge of the European Democracy Shield.
- Condemnation
- None on file
- Status
- Shield still in its protective packaging.
Subject 04
Henna Virkkunen
Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
- On file
- Has “Democracy” in her job title.
- Condemnation
- None on file
- Status
- Title retained. Sovereignty pending.
Photos: Etienne Ansotte / European Union; Aurore Martignoni / European Union; European Commission Audiovisual Service; Jennifer Jacquemart / European Commission Audiovisual Service. All CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cut-out, halftone and bars added by this Office.
Case file · Chronology
-
Since June
The #Disinfo2026 programme is public, including a panel on the US as a FIMI threat. Nobody objects for three months.
-
Pre-event
The US State Department contacts Lithuania, Canada, France and the EEAS about their support. Internal documents thank Lithuania for “taking US concerns seriously”. Source: The Guardian, 07.10.2026
-
Days before
The logos of Lithuania's foreign ministry, the EEAS and Global Affairs Canada are wiped from the conference website. White stickers cover them on printed materials. France keeps its support. Source: The Guardian, 07.10.2026
-
EU DisinfoLab holds #Disinfo2026 in Vilnius with 650 participants. The contested panel goes ahead: “US as a FIMI threat: acknowledge, adapt, push back”.
-
Midday briefing. A Commission spokesperson explains three times, in nearly identical words, that the logo went because of “the framing”. On US contacts:
we are not commenting on any such exchanges
. On funding: support wasrecalibrated
. Then, with feeling:It's getting repetitive.
We sympathise. Nobody should have to defend that alone, at noon, in front of AFP. Watch: EC Midday briefing, 08.10.2026 -
German MP Anna Lührmann (Greens) speaks in the Bundestag: “EU institutions and governments should not cave under US pressure.” It takes her one day. Source: @annaluehrmann, 08.10.2026
-
70 civil society organisations publish a letter asking the European Parliament for a resolution in support of free debate. Source: EPD, 15.10.2026
-
Today
Deep concern awaiting interservice consultation. Counter running.
Case file · Summary
The European External Action Service coined the term FIMI. It then withdrew from a European conference after a foreign government objected to a panel naming that same government as a FIMI threat. The concept, it turns out, applies to foreign governments on a case-by-case basis.
Asked why, an EU spokesperson explained that the organisers framed some discussions “in a way which does not align with the official positions held by the EU”. The EU still funds the conference. It simply prefers not to be seen there. Sponsoring a conference does not mean endorsing every session. It means guaranteeing the organiser's editorial autonomy, which was the point.
The 70+ signatories ask EU institutions to withstand undue pressure from foreign actors, regardless of its origin, and to back the researchers, journalists and civil society who defend Europe's information integrity, preferably before their funding runs out. The standard line “We are deeply concerned” remains in draft, pending approval by 27 Member States and one ally. For once in its life, the EU is not very much concerned.
“Not a single senior Commission official has publicly spoken out to criticize this direct interference and pressure on European soil.”