The European Union (EU) has introduced a proposal aimed at curbing political interference by foreign governments. Under this proposal, entities working on behalf of foreign governments would be required to register, and measures would be taken to crack down on spyware. Unlike the US law, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, the EU's initiative would be enforced through fines rather than criminal sanctions or bans. European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova clarified that this is not a traditional foreign agent law but rather an effort to address covert influence activities that deceive and interfere with democratic processes.

The proposal comes ahead of the EU elections in June 2024, with concerns about potential interference from external actors such as Russia. The proposed Defence of Democracy legislation mandates that entities sign on to a transparency register, disclose key data on their representation activities, and maintain records for a period of four years. However, the package still requires approval from the European Parliament and EU member countries to come into effect. Interestingly, the European Parliament itself is currently facing a foreign influence scandal known as "Qatargate."

Belgian authorities are investigating alleged bribes paid by Qatar and Morocco to manipulate parliamentary deliberations. Seven suspects, including current and former Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), have been charged in the probe, which involved the seizure of 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) in cash. While some have confessed to their involvement, others maintain their innocence, and Qatar and Morocco deny any wrongdoing. Jourova highlighted that several democracies worldwide have taken action or are in the process of doing so to combat foreign interference in their democratic processes.

She expressed the EU's commitment to setting its own standards regarding this issue, emphasizing that the aim is not to close off or restrict activities but to introduce a set of transparency rules. Violations under the proposed legislation would result in fines ranging from one percent of turnover for companies or groups, to a maximum of 1,000 euros for individuals. Jourova clarified that these fines do not fall under the criminal justice jurisdiction, as is the case in the US and Australia, but are part of the transparency rules introduced by the EU.

Overall, the EU's proposal seeks to address concerns about political interference and covert influence activities, setting a democratic standard to protect its democratic processes while promoting transparency and accountability. The package, once approved by the European Parliament and EU member countries, will contribute to the growing global efforts aimed at safeguarding the integrity of democratic systems.