Center for the Study of Democracy

Pravda’s Web Against the backdrop of accelerating digital and information manipulation, computational propaganda poses a growing threat to information integrity and democratic discourse. Authoritarian actors and t...

💡In Bulgaria and across Europe, Russia’s vast information manipulation ecosystem influences search engine algorithms and large language models, flooding the web with pro-Kremlin content.

#Disinfo #Russia #EU #Bulgaria

Read our analysis👇

The Last Mile Hungary and Slovakia's continued reliance on Russian energy imports, particularly crude oil and gas, has undermined EU sanctions and strengthened Russia's economic and military power. Despite EU exemp...

💡 Hungary and Slovakia continue to rely on Russian energy imports, undermining EU sanctions and strengthening Russia's economic and military power.

#Hungary #Slovakia #Russia #EU #Energy

Full analysis👇

From Loopholes to Launchpads The global effort to fight financial crime and corruption increasingly depends on understanding the concept of illicit financial flows, or IFFs. It is...

💡The “Illicit” in Illicit Financial Flows does not necessarily mean illegal. The distinction must be kept clear in order to effectively counter their effects.

#IFFs #DualUse #EU #StateCapture

Full analysis👇

Investment Screening in Bulgaria: Zero to One Foreign direct investment (FDI) screening mechanisms are crucial for safeguarding economic security and resilience in Europe, especially as geopolitical risks increase and the regulatory environment e...

💡 In response to geopolitical risks and an evolving regulatory environment, Bulgaria must improve its foreign direct investment screening mechanisms to be more strategic and forward-looking.

#Geopolitics #InvestmentScreening #Bulgaria #EU

Read the policy brief for full analysis 👇

The Kremlin Playbook in Türkiye The Russian invasion of Ukraine has underscored Moscow's efforts to challenge the US-led international order by leveraging partnerships with China, militarized diplomacy, economic coercion, and inform...

💡Türkiye has become indispensable in Russia’s strategy to challenge the US-led international order and circumvent Western sanctions.

Consequences include risks to NATO unity, European sanctions enforcement, and the broader international system.

#Turkiye #Russia #NATO #Sanctions

Full report👇

Shadow Fusions As Europe confronts the return of large-scale warfare on the continent, it also faces a more covert and insidious threat: Russia’s strategic use of criminal networks as a tool of hybrid warfare. Crimi...

💡 Russia’s strategic use of criminal networks as a hybrid warfare tool poses a covert and insidious threat to European security. A unified, intelligence-driven response is urgently needed.

#Russia #HybridWarfare #Security #Europe

Full report👇

Inflation Outlook Bulgaria’s accession to the eurozone exposes the country to potential price pressures, where rapid income growth and inflation expectations can mutually reinforce one another. Neutralizing this risk r...

💡Bulgaria’s accession to the eurozone exposes the country to potential price pressures, where rapid income growth and inflation expectations can mutually reinforce one another.

Neutralizing this risk will require both short and long term measures.

#Bulgaria #eurozone #inflation

Full report👇

#OpenTheWhistle #Whistleblowing
🔗 openthewhistle.eu/ca/home-ca/
@csdbuildbridges.bsky.social

Europe’s Strategic AI Dilemma Since the start of 2025, global headlines have focused on DeepSeek - China’s open-weight AI challenger that has quickly climbed the ranks of...

💡Deepseek is AI shaped by an authoritarian regime without transparency, checks, or accountability.

This isn’t about corporate policy; it’s about political systems training digital agents.

#Deepseek #AI #Democracy #Europe

Full blog post below 👇

Inflation Outlook Bulgaria’s accession to the eurozone exposes the country to potential price pressures, where rapid income growth and inflation expectations can mutually reinforce one another. Neutralizing this risk r...

💡 Do the official 2025 inflation forecasts for Bulgaria (averaging 3.65%) underestimate actual price developments? Experts say its possible.

#Bulgaria #Eurozone #Inflation

Read the report for full analysis👇

Croatia’s euro advice to Bulgaria: Relax, it could be a lot worse Prices have risen since Croatia adopted the euro, but that doesn’t outweigh the benefits many have enjoyed.

All those Bulgarian euro doomsayers need to take a chill pill.

At least, that’s the advice from Croatia, the last country to adopt the single currency back in 2023.

Europe’s Strategic AI Dilemma Since the start of 2025, global headlines have focused on DeepSeek - China’s open-weight AI challenger that has quickly climbed the ranks of...

🎙️“For Europe, DeepSeek is a litmus test for how democracies handle AI built abroad under very different rules,” write Maria Sevlievska and Ruslan Stefanov.

#Europe #DeepSeek #AI #Democracy

Latest blog post👇

Shadow Fusions As Europe confronts the return of large-scale warfare on the continent, it also faces a more covert and insidious threat: Russia’s strategic use of criminal networks as a tool of hybrid warfare. Crimi...

“Criminal groups are no longer operating on the margins - they are embedded into the Kremlin’s foreign policy to conduct sabotage, evade sanctions, and erode societal cohesion.”

For more on how Russia uses organized crime to conduct hybrid warfare, read our recent report👇

#OpenTheWhistle #Whistleblowing
🔗 www.openthewhistle.eu/ca/home-ca/
@csdbuildbridges.bsky.social

💡 In recent years, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) has emerged as a sophisticated tactic used by authoritarian states such as Russia and China to destabilize democratic societies.

To learn more, subscribe to the DE-CONSPIRATOR newsletter👇

In 2026, Bulgaria 🇧🇬 will join the Eurozone and become the 21st country to adopt our common currency.

As the Eurozone evolves, so does the story of the euro. 💶

Shadow Fusions As Europe confronts the return of large-scale warfare on the continent, it also faces a more covert and insidious threat: Russia’s strategic use of criminal networks as a tool of hybrid warfare. Crimi...

With the war in Ukraine, Europe faces a threat it can no longer ignore: Russia’s use of criminal networks as a hybrid warfare tool.

#HybridWarfare #Russia #UkraineWar #EU

Read the full report👇

I welcome the agreement on our 18th sanctions package against Russia.
 
We are striking at the heart of Russia's war machine.

Targeting its banking, energy and military-industrial sectors and including a new dynamic oil price cap.

🗣️ What do citizens think?

In citizen consultations in #Bulgaria, participants voiced concerns about corruption, pollution, misinformation, and barriers to justice.

They also proposed clear solutions: judicial reform, clean energy, better public transport, and more civic education.

Full report👇

During its 59th session, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on the impact of corruption on human rights – a victory for global justice and accountability, and a testament to the power of collective advocacy.

#HumanRights #UN #UnitedNations

Read the full resolution👇

Seizing the Edge in Cognitive Warfare More than one way to win a war. The cognitive domain is the source and the homeland for understanding the global threat environment, the values worth...

“Absent a credible capability and demonstrated will to inflict unacceptable pain on our enemies, they will continue to probe our weaknesses and seek strategic advantage,” writes Michael Miklaucic.

The West must step up both defensive and offensive cognitive warfare capabilities.

New blog post👇

Seldi.net report: csd.eu/publications...

CSD Policy Brief: csd.eu/publications...

The 2025 EU Rule of Law Report sends a clear signal to the Western Balkans: despite reform commitments, core governance problems remain unresolved.

Full reports from CSD and SELDI in replies👇

Seizing the Edge in Cognitive Warfare More than one way to win a war. The cognitive domain is the source and the homeland for understanding the global threat environment, the values worth...

Russia and China each dedicate billions of dollars to cognitive warfare against the West.

Western nations need to recognize the threat, increase psychological resilience, and seize the offensive.

#Russia #China #CognitiveWarfare #Security

Read our latest blog post, written by Michael Miklaucic👇

Bulgaria, the euro is coming!

On 1 January 2026, Bulgaria will become our 21st Eurozone country.

This means more than just a new currency – it is a real achievement.

The euro will strengthen Bulgaria’s economy and bring big benefits for Bulgarian people and businesses.

💡Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro marks a major leap forward for its economy, unlocking access to powerful tools and protections within the euro area. The move brings financial stability, reduces transaction costs, and eliminates currency risk in trade with EU partners.

#Bulgaria #Eurozone #EU

Industrial facility with workers in safety gear operating machinery. Overlaid text reads: 'Secure industries, jobs for the future.' Below, it highlights the 'Neo Materials Rare Earth Magnet Facility, Estonia,' describing it as Europe’s first rare earth magnet plant for electric vehicles. EU flag and slogan 'Europe’s Budget: The Power of Together' appear on a blue background.

Europe’s budget is investing in security of supply in key industries, in jobs and resilience.

Europe’s first rare earth magnet plant will make key components for electric cars and wind turbines.

Europe invests where it matters to make a difference for 450m Europeans.

#ThePowerOfTogether

In many Southern European countries, protecting whistleblowers remains a serious challenge.

What’s needed: stronger internal reporting channels, clearer distinctions between public/private interest violations, psychological support measures, and a public awareness campaign.

Read the new report 👇

Less Carbon, More Power The rules-based international trade system that is largely shaped by transatlantic cooperation now faces one of its most serious tests. Under...

“In times of increasing geoeconomic rivalry, building strong green supply chains and reinforcing domestic production capacity is crucial for bolstering EU’s economic resilience and strategic autonomy,” writes Marius Koeppen.

#EU #Geoeconomics #GreenEnergy

Read our latest blog post👇