The initiative is part of the wider "European Shield of Democracy" initiative to protect EU citizens from foreign interference and disinformation. It was introduced by Ursula von der Leyen when she ran for a second term last year ahead of the European Parliament elections.

According to the Guardian, the centre aims to centralise expertise and provide a platform for information sharing and early warnings.

In addition to waging war against Ukraine, the project says Russia is actively using hybrid attacks against Europe. "By spreading false information, sometimes including manipulation and falsification of historical facts, Russia seeks to undermine trust in democratic systems," the paper quotes the draft document as saying.

The Union has identified dozens of cases of manipulation, including the Doppelganger campaign, which mimicked well-known media outlets and spread fake articles.

The centre is to be voluntary for member and candidate countries, but participation could also be open to "like-minded partners", which apparently includes the UK.

Brussels is also proposing the creation of an independent network of fact-checkers and the involvement of influencers to promote awareness of the European Union's democratic standards. They should be particularly active during elections, health emergencies or natural disasters.

More detailed provisions of the initiative are expected to be made public on 12 November.

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