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The Hanns Seidel Foundation, in cooperation with the Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning, convened a high-level round table in Bucharest on September 22–23, 2025. The event gathered experts, policymakers, diplomats, academics, and analysts from across Europe to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: countering disinformation and strengthening Europe’s resilience.
The round table was structured around three key thematic panels:
- Ideological Narratives (defining democracies vs. dictatorships)
- Clash of Interpretations (diverging narratives on NATO and international security)
- Historical Revisionism (narratives vs. evidence-based counter-narratives)
The event was opened by Jan Dresel, Director of the Hanns Seidel Foundation’s project Peace and Democracy in Eastern Europe, and Prof. Dr. Iulian Chifu, President of the Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning and Senior Research Fellow of INIS (Institute for National and International Security).
Prof. Dr. Chifu emphasized that disinformation not only undermines democratic institutions but also erodes trust between citizens and governments. His intervention framed the round table by stressing the need for evidence-based counter-narratives and stronger European cooperation. Prof. Dr. Chifu underlined that ideological narratives are strategically designed to weaken Europe’s cohesion by amplifying divisions between East and West, democracy and authoritarianism. He highlighted the necessity of building resilience through education, strategic communication, and societal awareness.
Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović, Director of the Institute for National and International Security (INIS) in Belgrade and Senior Research Fellow, delivered a key intervention. He drew attention to the vulnerabilities of states bordering Russia to hybrid threats and particularly to Russia’s projection of kinetic energy toward Ukraine as the most visible manifestation of hybrid warfare.
Prof. Dr. Trifunović emphasized that such actions cannot be viewed in isolation. They are part of a broader Russian strategy, with ripple effects targeting Moldova, Georgia, Serbia, and other EU candidate countries. He stressed that these states are primary laboratories for Russian disinformation campaigns and hybrid influence operations, designed to obstruct Euro-Atlantic integration and weaken democratic resilience.
In his remarks, Prof. Dr. Trifunović introduced the concept of “Rusopathophilia”, describing it as a psychological and sociopolitical phenomenon that emerges as a consequence of sustained Russian hybrid actions. This phenomenon fosters sympathetic or romanticized views of Russia within targeted societies, undermining national cohesion and trust in Western institutions.
He further detailed the key elements of Russian disinformation narratives, noting that they are deliberately structured to achieve psychological effects against civilian populations. These include:
· The exploitation of historical myths and cultural symbols;
· The promotion of conspiracy theories about NATO and the EU;
· The instrumentalization of social grievances and economic insecurities;
· The systematic erosion of trust in democratic institutions and media.
Both Prof. Dr. Iulian Chifu and Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović played a central role in the conference as Senior Research Fellows of the Institute for National and International Security (INIS). Their contributions highlighted:
- The strategic link between disinformation, hybrid threats, and security science.
- The role of European academic and policy cooperation in building resilience.
- The importance of developing innovative counter-disinformation strategies tailored to the Balkans and Eastern Europe.
Their presence further reinforced the international positioning of INIS as a leading academic and policy-oriented institution in the field of security science.
The round table in Bucharest marked a significant step toward a unified European approach to countering disinformation. By bringing together policymakers, academics, and practitioners, the event highlighted the urgency of strengthening democratic resilience.
The active participation of Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović and Prof. Dr. Iulian Chifu, both Senior Research Fellows of INIS, ensured that the Institute’s voice and expertise were prominently reflected in shaping the European agenda for countering disinformation.
Share
The Hanns Seidel Foundation, in cooperation with the Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning, convened a high-level round table in Bucharest on September 22–23, 2025. The event gathered experts, policymakers, diplomats, academics, and analysts from across Europe to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: countering disinformation and strengthening Europe’s resilience.
The round table was structured around three key thematic panels:
- Ideological Narratives (defining democracies vs. dictatorships)
- Clash of Interpretations (diverging narratives on NATO and international security)
- Historical Revisionism (narratives vs. evidence-based counter-narratives)
The event was opened by Jan Dresel, Director of the Hanns Seidel Foundation’s project Peace and Democracy in Eastern Europe, and Prof. Dr. Iulian Chifu, President of the Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning and Senior Research Fellow of INIS (Institute for National and International Security).
Prof. Dr. Chifu emphasized that disinformation not only undermines democratic institutions but also erodes trust between citizens and governments. His intervention framed the round table by stressing the need for evidence-based counter-narratives and stronger European cooperation. Prof. Dr. Chifu underlined that ideological narratives are strategically designed to weaken Europe’s cohesion by amplifying divisions between East and West, democracy and authoritarianism. He highlighted the necessity of building resilience through education, strategic communication, and societal awareness.
Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović, Director of the Institute for National and International Security (INIS) in Belgrade and Senior Research Fellow, delivered a key intervention. He drew attention to the vulnerabilities of states bordering Russia to hybrid threats and particularly to Russia’s projection of kinetic energy toward Ukraine as the most visible manifestation of hybrid warfare.
Prof. Dr. Trifunović emphasized that such actions cannot be viewed in isolation. They are part of a broader Russian strategy, with ripple effects targeting Moldova, Georgia, Serbia, and other EU candidate countries. He stressed that these states are primary laboratories for Russian disinformation campaigns and hybrid influence operations, designed to obstruct Euro-Atlantic integration and weaken democratic resilience.
In his remarks, Prof. Dr. Trifunović introduced the concept of “Rusopathophilia”, describing it as a psychological and sociopolitical phenomenon that emerges as a consequence of sustained Russian hybrid actions. This phenomenon fosters sympathetic or romanticized views of Russia within targeted societies, undermining national cohesion and trust in Western institutions.
He further detailed the key elements of Russian disinformation narratives, noting that they are deliberately structured to achieve psychological effects against civilian populations. These include:
· The exploitation of historical myths and cultural symbols;
· The promotion of conspiracy theories about NATO and the EU;
· The instrumentalization of social grievances and economic insecurities;
· The systematic erosion of trust in democratic institutions and media.
Both Prof. Dr. Iulian Chifu and Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović played a central role in the conference as Senior Research Fellows of the Institute for National and International Security (INIS). Their contributions highlighted:
- The strategic link between disinformation, hybrid threats, and security science.
- The role of European academic and policy cooperation in building resilience.
- The importance of developing innovative counter-disinformation strategies tailored to the Balkans and Eastern Europe.
Their presence further reinforced the international positioning of INIS as a leading academic and policy-oriented institution in the field of security science.
The round table in Bucharest marked a significant step toward a unified European approach to countering disinformation. By bringing together policymakers, academics, and practitioners, the event highlighted the urgency of strengthening democratic resilience.
The active participation of Prof. Dr. Darko Trifunović and Prof. Dr. Iulian Chifu, both Senior Research Fellows of INIS, ensured that the Institute’s voice and expertise were prominently reflected in shaping the European agenda for countering disinformation.
