Professor Jelena Dzankic, of the EUI’s Global Governance Programme, spells out how better data and research infrastructure can improve policymaking and empower civil society, ultimately smoothing Western Balkans countries’ path to joining the EU – a prospect recently on the agenda again.

The EU policy response to disinformation expands researchers’ involvement beyond data analysis to fostering accountability and public scrutiny. Lisa Ginsborg and Paula Gori, of the European Digital Media Observatory, point out key considerations for collaboration, infrastructure and capacity building, and data protection if this effort is to succeed.