These were two of the main issues touched upon by ECR member Matteo Bianchi (councillor in Morazzone) in a debate with Commissioner Věra Jourová on the European Democracy Action Plan – a proposal by the European Commission Mr Bianchi views as relevant but with some points requiring further clarification.

​He began by saying that the ECR group in the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) agrees that elections held in the Member States must be "safeguarded from any kind of interference". As elected representatives at local and regional level, "many of us are directly concerned given that in many countries it is up to us to organise the elections and ensure their security", stated the ECR member. Mr Bianchi suggested that electoral processes be considered in the expansion of the scope on critical infrastructures – a topic of much discussion lately in Brussels (and subject of a recently adopted opinion drawn up by ECR member Mario Guarente).

Another important point of the Commission proposal Mr Bianchi referred to is the idea that both the EU and Member State authorities, including local and regional authorities, will need to develop their capacity to detect and analyse disinformation. "The fight against disinformation has become particularly important in recent months. We can certainly say that today the coronavirus pandemic is accompanied by a disinformation pandemic", expressed Matteo Bianchi. He commended the Commission's efforts in countering this phenomenon but also called for support in helping local and regional authorities fight disinformation.

The debate took place in the context of the CoR July plenary.