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This analysis, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE), aims to explore the impact of disinformation activity originated or amplified from abroad targeting minorities in the EU over the years 2018-2021. While disinformation has become all-pervasive, it can be considered as yet another tool being used to target vulnerable groups in society. Looking at recent disinformation ...

All over the world, faith-based organisations (FBOs) are active in the fields of development and humanitarian aid. Their faith-based character can stem from various dimensions (link to a religious organisation, funding, mission statement or main beneficiaries), but collectively they are important actors on the ground. Nonetheless, there is no fixed definition of an FBO, and in practice there are many different forms of FBO active in providing aid and development assistance. Indeed faith-based organisations ...

Every year the European institutions hold dialogue sessions with churches, and with non-confessional and philosophical organisations. Based on Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) the dialogue focuses on issues on the European agenda.

Over the past few years, the world’s commitment to peace and its capacity to deal with evolving security challenges have been put to the test. The outcomes – an increasing number of refugees, an expanding network of terrorist organisations, some countries’ high dependency on international aid, and a relatively low level of respect for civil liberties around the world – demonstrate an urgent need for reflection and adaptation.

A mosaic of cultures, languages and religions, Indonesia shares not only the EU's motto (Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, Unity in Diversity), but also many of its values, such as tolerance, pluralism and, since the 1998 downfall of former dictator Suharto, also democracy. With many other Muslim-majority states torn by conflicts and persecution of religious minorities, Indonesia stands out as an example of a country where different faiths are able to co-exist harmoniously. Despite this globally positive picture ...

Since the outbreak of the conflict in Syria, Iran has been a steadfast supporter of Bashar al-Assad's regime, and ensuring its survival is Iran's primary objective. This is unsurprising, given that Tehran needs a friendly regime in Damascus to protect its strategic interests in the region. At the same time, there is an expectation of more constructive engagement from Iran following the signature of the nuclear deal with E3/EU+3 countries.

Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia – two powerhouses and major rivals of the Muslim world – have always been complicated. The 1979 Revolution in Iran, and the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988), have contributed to entrenching their historical antagonisms and left an imprint in the foreign policies of both Iran and Saudi Arabia. Since 2011, Tehran and Riyadh have repeatedly exchanged blows, including through their proxies in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Iran has also often been accused of interfering in the ...

Islam is based on a number of shared fundamental beliefs and practices. Nonetheless, over time leadership disputes within the Muslim community have resulted in the formation of different branches of the Islamic faith, which have ultimately resulted in the development of distinct religious identities within Islam. Despite many shared religious and cultural connections, these branches differ from each other in their interpretations of certain aspects of the faith, in their view on Islamic history, ...

The European institutions hold dialogue sessions every year with churches and non-confessional and philosophical organisations. Based on Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFUE) the dialogue focuses on issues upon the European agenda.

Myanmar/Burma faces no major external security threats; it enjoys friendly relations with its neighbours, all of which, like it, are signatories of ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. Internal threats are more serious, with the country racked by long-running ethnic insurgencies. Over the past few years, most of the rebels have signed ceasefires but a final peace accord remains elusive. Recent years have also seen mob violence targeting the country's Muslim minority. Resolving these issues is ...