Last week, ICS held the second meeting of the coordinating body established to support the development of more effective policies and practices for addressing FIMI and strengthening the country’s democratic stability.

The meeting was held within the project “TRACE: Tracking, Exposing, and Countering Hidden Foreign Manipulations and Interferences,” funded by the Government of the United Kingdom with support from the British Embassy in Skopje. Representatives from several state institutions participated, and for the first time, a representative from the National Committee for Preventing Violent Extremism and Countering Terrorism attended.

This meeting follows the first session held on 15 July. The aim was to inform members in more detail about the project’s activities so far and to open a discussion on how these efforts can be used or adapted within institutional work, especially in addressing information manipulation coming from external actors.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the State Election Commission (SEC), the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services (AAVMU), and the National Committee for Preventing Violent Extremism and Countering Terrorism.

Participants were presented with the policy document (set to be published at the end of November) and the first case study produced within the project. ICS also showcased other ongoing activities, such as training for vulnerable groups and resources for addressing FIMI.

The main part of the discussion focused on the policy document, which proposes a model for a national system aimed at strengthening the country’s resilience against foreign influence. Institutional representatives emphasized the need for clearer political support, better cross-sector coordination, and updated legislation, especially in the area of digital regulation and hybrid threats.

The biggest challenges mentioned were: lack of specialized staff, an outdated hybrid threats strategy, and the need for legal amendments. The SEC highlighted the necessity of a dedicated coordination body for electoral processes, while AAVMU pointed out that online media still exist in a regulatory “vacuum,” with uncertainties surrounding the implementation of European digital laws in candidate countries.

The second case study, focusing on the role of influencers in FIMI, was also announced, along with new tools for addressing FIMI. Institutions shared ideas on how these materials could be integrated into their platforms or websites.