POLITICO: Bulgaria Seeks EU Help to Counter Election Interference Ahead of April Snap-Vote

Bulgaria has formally requested assistance from the European Union to counter potential foreign interference and disinformation campaigns ahead of its upcoming parliamentary elections, according to reporting by POLITICO and correspondence seen by the publication.

In the request, Bulgarian authorities asked the EU’s diplomatic service to help identify and disrupt attempts by external actors, including Russia, to influence public opinion through social media platforms and propaganda websites. The appeal comes as Sofia prepares for another highly contested election, the country’s eighth in five years, scheduled for April 19.

As part of its response, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has established a temporary coordination unit focused on foreign interference. It has also brought in investigative journalist Christo Grozev, formerly of Bellingcat, to provide advisory support to the effort.

The request includes activation of EU mechanisms such as the European External Action Service (EEAS) foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) toolbox, which coordinates monitoring and analysis of disinformation across member states. It also seeks use of the EU’s rapid response system under the Digital Services Act, intended to facilitate real-time coordination with major platforms including Meta, Google, and TikTok to detect and address coordinated influence operations.

The European Commission has confirmed that the process has been initiated. The EEAS system is typically deployed in cases involving suspected foreign interference and is more often used in relation to neighboring countries such as Moldova.

Bulgaria’s appeal also emphasizes what it describes as a heightened risk of coordinated campaigns aimed at undermining electoral integrity. An official cited by POLITICO noted that, in contrast to previous positions of denial regarding interference, the Foreign Ministry is now treating the issue as a priority area.

At the same time, discussions have already taken place between Bulgarian authorities and representatives of TikTok regarding risks of disinformation during the campaign period. Experts warn that much of the manipulation activity has shifted online, where existing election regulations are less effective, as they primarily target traditional media.

Analysts cited in the report also pointed to concerns following developments in Romania, where coordinated online activity was linked to unexpected electoral outcomes, highlighting broader regional risks.

The EEAS stated it remains ready to support member states through its rapid alert mechanisms, allowing real-time exchange of information on disinformation threats. However, it stressed that elections remain a national responsibility, with organization and conduct fully under the authority of individual member states.