Fact-checkers, journalists as well as researchers and policy-makers met on 25 and 26 March at a conference in Brussels organised by EDMO and EFCSN in cooperation with the European Parliament. They spent two days at the Zweig Visitor Centre discussing the challenges facing fact-checking in Europe in the coming months and years.
On the first day, fact-checkers had the opportunity to listen to a speech by Henna Virkkunen, Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, and to address her with critical questions. The discussion continued with MEPs Nathalie Loiseau, who is responsible for the European Democracy Shield, and Pina Picierno, Vice-President of the European Parliament, who works on the subject of communication. MEP Christel Schaldemose, who deals with the implementation of the Digital Act, also took part in the discussion on European regulation of social networks. Speaking about the role of the media in society, EP Vice President Sabine Verheyen stressed: “Disinformation becomes a weapon that distorts reality and erodes society’s trust in the media. The work of fact-checkers and journalists is at the heart of the fight against these threats.”
On Wednesday, fact-checkers spoke on the topic of media literacy and building resilience to misinformation, but also the attacks they face. European organisations from non-EU countries drew attention to the deteriorating level of democracy and civil society in their countries. Conversations over coffee or wine allowed representatives of fact-checker organisations to share their experiences of the changing environment. Many are seeking new forms of funding and organizational sustainability.