FIMI-COHERE

Coherent Response against Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

Overview

Foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) poses a growing challenge to democratic resilience across the Baltic Sea Region. Countering it requires cooperation across national borders and between government agencies, researchers, journalists, civil society organisations and security experts.

While considerable expertise and numerous initiatives already exist across the region, opportunities remain to strengthen coordination, exchange knowledge and avoid duplication of efforts.

The FIMI-COHERE, or Coherent Response against Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, project addresses these challenges by connecting stakeholders across sectors and countries, identifying gaps in regional cooperation and developing concrete proposals for a more coherent and effective response.

Objective

FIMI-COHERE aims to strengthen cross-sector and cross-border cooperation against foreign information manipulation and interference in the Baltic Sea Region.

The project seeks to improve mutual awareness among stakeholders, identify coordination needs and develop practical proposals for sustained regional cooperation, building on existing networks and initiatives.

Target groups

Government agencies, civil society organisations, fact-checkers, journalists, researchers, security policy experts, educators, disinformation analysts and youth representatives working to counter FIMI across the Baltic Sea Region.

Outputs

The project will organise three international stakeholder workshops, focusing on:

  1. Mapping the landscape: Developing a shared understanding of existing initiatives, stakeholders and coordination mechanisms across the region.
  2. Identifying coordination needs: Examining gaps in cross-sector and cross-border cooperation, information exchange and opportunities to reduce duplication.
  3. Developing solutions: Formulating practical initiatives and policy recommendations to strengthen regional coordination.

The project will deliver two main outputs:

  1. A regional roadmap outlining at least three actionable initiatives or cooperation formats for a more coherent response to FIMI.
  2. A policy brief containing concrete recommendations for institutional and regulatory reforms to improve coordination across the Baltic Sea Region.
Partners

Project partners:

  • Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) Secretariat
  • Lund University (Sweden)
  • Faktabaari (Finland)
  • Debunk.org (Lithuania)
  • Casimir Pulaski Foundation (Poland)

Associated organisations:

  • Swedish Psychological Defence Agency (Sweden)
  • Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum (BSRYF) Working Group on Digital Literacy and Democracy
Duration

November 2026 – October 2027

Funding

FIMI-COHERE is funded by the Swedish Institute through its Baltic Sea and Eastern Partnership Programme.

Contact

Felix Schartner Giertta, Project Coordinator, BSR Cultural Pearls, Phone: +46 73 026 73 12, Email: [email protected]