The European Union, as well as the authorities in Canada and Lithuania, withdrew at the last minute from funding Disinfo2026, a conference on disinformation held in Vilnius. On Thursday, October 8, European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand explained the decision by citing disagreement with “the wording of some discussions,” which “does not correspond to the EU’s official position.”
Media reported pressure from Washington
He declined to specify which panel discussions had displeased Brussels. Meanwhile, media outlets have noted that one of them focused on the threat of “information interference” from the United States. Earlier, several publications, including the British newspaper The Guardian, reported that the European External Action Service, as well as the Lithuanian and Canadian authorities, withdrew their support for the event after pressure from the U.S. State Department.
Wiegand neither confirmed nor denied reports of possible U.S. pressure. Responding to a question about contacts with U.S. representatives, he said that, as a matter of principle, he does not comment on diplomatic negotiations.
The Disinfo2026 conference took place in Lithuania’s capital on October 7–8. Its program included discussions on countering disinformation, as well as an interview with International Criminal Court (ICC) judge Kimberly Prost. The ICC has repeatedly faced harsh criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration. Sponsors’ logos at the conference venue had been covered with strips of paper.