CLABE, EIMP’s Spanish member, organized the first ‘Day Against Disinformation’ conference in Madrid on 17 October 2023, where the EIMP leadership had the pleasure to participate. The event was attended by a high number of ministers, parliamentarians, and high-ranking civil servants, as well as publishers, technology experts, and other relevant industry stakeholders. Sebastian Remøy, President of EIMP, introduced Spain’s Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, for a discussion on disinformation and conflicts.
The conference welcomed various institutional speakers, including Félix Bolaños, Minister of the Presidency of Spain; Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Minister of the Interior; Margarita Robles, Minister of Defence; Francina Armengol, President of the Congress of Deputies; María Lledó, Secretary General for the European Union in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Martyna Bildziukiewicz, Head of East Stratcom Task Force at the European External Action Service (EEAS). EIMP President Sebastian Remøy and Executive Director Mihailo Jovetic also attended an institutional lunch with Spain’s Minister for Culture, Miquel Iceta, including discussions on disinformation, artificial intelligence (AI) and the cultural sector, and the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).
In his introduction of Minister of Defence Margarita Robles, who is also a judge, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and parliamentarian, EIMP President Remøy underlined the importance of a healthy and reliable media landscape, along with a strong education system, in limiting the spread of disinformation and falsehoods. Technological revolutions have always brought challenges with them, from the invention of print, to the internet, and now with AI. Regulating new technologies is necessary, but guaranteeing a strong and diverse media is equally, if not more important for fighting disinformation, as it gives citizens the means to be well-informed about the facts and the truth.
About EIMP
The European Independent Media Publishers association – EIMP, is a pan-European association consisting of national associations of media publishers and individual publishers that are active in the sector of media publishing in Europe. EIMP represents innovative, independent, local and regional outlets that rely on online channels to grow and reach audiences, and promotes media pluralism and an ecosystem that fosters growth for small, independent and innovative (digital-native) media publishers. EIMP was established in 2015 when the European Commission launched its copyright reform, in order to take part in the debate and ensure the new rules support our members. EIMP represents over 1000 media outlets across Europe. Contact: secretariat@eimp.eu