How can corruption and weaknesses in public governance make European countries more vulnerable to foreign interference? And what happens when gaps in laws and regulations are exploited to advance geopolitical interests?

On 26 November 2026 at 12:00 CET, the RESPOND project invites journalists, civil society organisations, activists, researchers and policymakers and all those interested in European democracy and international affairs to join an online seminar exploring the links between political corruption, governance deficits and foreign influence in Europe.

Drawing on findings from the RESPOND project, the seminar will examine patterns of political corruption across Europe and the weaknesses in regulatory approaches and legal frameworks that can allow these practices to persist. It will also explore the concept of lawfare — the strategic use or exploitation of legal rules and institutions to pursue political objectives — and how gaps in the rule of law can fuel public grievances while creating opportunities for external actors to exert influence.

A particular focus will be placed on China’s growing economic and strategic presence in Europe. The speakers will discuss how infrastructure projects and the acquisition of strategic national assets can raise concerns about national security, economic viability and political accountability, particularly when oversight mechanisms are weak or governance safeguards are lacking.

Beyond the immediate risks, the discussion will address a broader question: how can stronger institutions, more transparent decision-making and effective legal safeguards help European societies protect democratic accountability and resist foreign interference?

The seminar aims to connect research findings with current political challenges, offering insights relevant to those working on democracy, media, anti-corruption, public policy and European security.

Speakers

Dr. Rumena Filipova – Founder, Institute for Global Analytics (IGA)

Dr. Rumena Filipova received a DPhil and MPhil in International Relations from the University of Oxford and a BA in Politics, Psychology and Sociology from the University of Cambridge. Rumena has been a Denton Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, D.C.; a recipient of the State Department’s IVLP Impact Award; an expert reviewer for CRDF Global and the United States Institute of Peace. Her main research interests focus on the politics and international relations of Central and Eastern Europe, with a particular reference to questions of identity, media and disinformation, the authoritarian influence exercised by Russia and China in the region.

Plamen Tonchev has headed the Asia Unit at the Institute of International Economic Relations (IIER), Greece, since 1998. In addition, Plamen has served as an external expert for the European Commission on numerous EU missions overseas, primarily in Asia, including in a number of conflict-torn countries. He is a founding member of the European Think-tank Network on China (ETNC) and a European China Policy Fellow at the Berlin-based MERICS institute. Plamen has published books and articles in academic journals on Europe-Asia relations, and has lectured at European and Asian universities and think-tanks. He is also a
regular commentator on related issues in Greek and international media. Recent publications include the monographs “China’s Image in Greece, 2008-2018” (co-authored, IIER), “China’s Shift to a New Economic Model: From Quantitative to Qualitative Growth?” (Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco), among others.

Moderator: Dr. Stoyan Panov is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Global Analytics. His research interests and publications focus on the EU’s legal and institutional responses to the rule of law and corruption, the effect of populism on the rule of law, separation of powers and judicial independence, analysis of the CJEU’s jurisprudence in rule of law and democracy backsliding cases. Dr. Panov received his education at the University of Birmingham, Leiden University, Georgetown University, and DePauw University. He was awarded the 2019/2020 re:constitution – Exchange and Analysis on Democracy and the Rule of Law in Europe fellowship. He is a Lecturer in International Law and EU Law at University College Freiburg, University of Freiburg.

Registration

Registration is required to attend the seminar. Only registered participants will receive the link to join the online session.

Please register via the following link: https://forms.gle/H2x9LX13iDnEWsom8

You can watch the recording of our latest seminar here.