Facts Come First | WeBalkans | EU Projects in the Western Balkans

Disinformation is more than just spreading false information—it's a deliberate attempt to control conversations and manipulate public opinion. By using bots, trolls, fake websites, and fabricated experts, disinformation efforts seek to distort essential democratic debates, creating uncertainty, fear, and division.

That's where our WeBalkans campaign — Facts Come First — steps in: To remind you to:

Follow reliable sources — not just the loudest voices.

Question stories.

Ask: Who's promoting them? Why?

Compare facts. Listen to diverse voices.

Countering disinformation goes beyond correcting falsehoods: it's about protecting democratic values and actively improving people's lives by ensuring access to reliable, fact-based information.

Disinformation thrives on confusion
—facts bring clarity.

An informed perspective on EU enlargement allows citizens of the Western Balkans to critically assess information and reject false narratives.

The EU sees media, information, and digital literacy as essential tools to build resilience against disinformation in the Western Balkans.

Integrity
journalism

In an era flooded with information, journalism integrity is more essential than ever—not because it tells us what to think, but because it gives us with what we need to think clearly: facts.

Good journalism tells you what happened — and lets you decide what to think.

Biased stories try to tell you what to think — without showing the full picture.

The European
Union and the
Western Balkans

The EU sees the Western Balkans as part of its future — politically, economically, and culturally. The process is slow, yes. And difficult. But it's still moving and people are trying. New steps, new instruments, new investments are being introduced — even if they don't always make headlines.

And yes — meeting EU standards is demanding
But it's not about pleasing invisible administration
It's about creating stronger institutions, fairer societies, and better opportunities for people

So how do we move past the myths?

Start with this:

Don't believe everything at first glance.

Take a pause.

Ask: Where is this from? Who's behind it? What's the bigger picture?

Misconceptions are easy.
Real change takes effort.
And so does understanding.

A strong, independent, and professional media environment is essential for countering disinformation.

By fostering media integrity and independence and supporting fact-checking initiatives, the EU reinforces trust in credible media in the Western Balkans.

Not everything you see online is real.

And more and more of it isn't even made by people.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

→ Test your knowledge.

→ Sharpen your media skills.

→ Find out how much you really know.

Facts Come First

Truth is not something we can bend to fit how we feel.
Truth is what can be proven, checked, confirmed.

Being aware of fake news doesn't mean you have to distrust everything.
It means learning to recognise when you're being influenced.

Have you ever realised you were influenced or mislead?

Do you believe that you can make a difference between truth and myth?

Citizens of Western Balkans talked to our Young European Ambassadors check below:

FACT CONTENT LAB
IN PODGORICA

At the WeBalkans Facts Content Lab in Podgorica, journalists, fact-checkers, producers, and Young European Ambassadors from across the Western Balkans joined forces. Not just to talk, but to create.

Together, they explored disinformation around EU enlargement, tackle misconceptions, and discover how narratives shape people perspectives. No lectures - just collaboration, creativity, and real-time content production.

Podgorica Lab Participants PDF

Click for Facts Come First Press Release PDF

Click for Photo Album

They work in 4 teams on different themes:

PROOF SEEKERS

Exposing myths, cutting
through disinformation

DECODERS

Decoding manipulation
including AI generated

RE-SETTERS

Digital detox, mindful
habits, online harm

CREATIVE SKEPTICS

Questioning, exposing,
and reshaping narratives

Bu gönderiyi Instagram'da gör

WeBalkans.eu (@webalkans_eu)'in paylaştığı bir gönderi

Is your decision really yours? The subtle power of Native Advertising

Truth against myths about the EU: The Western Balkans in the mirror of disinformation

Facts Come First: Fighting disinformation in the Western Balkans

Disinformation gets clicks, facts build trust

Decode before you share

Watch the Final Video

Facts come first: The journey that challenges disinformation

Follow reliable sources — not just the loudest voices.
Question stories.
Ask: Who's promoting them? Why?
Compare facts. Listen to diverse voices.

Countering disinformation goes beyond correcting falsehoods: it's about protecting democratic values and actively improving people's lives by ensuring access to reliable, fact-based information..

Disinformation thrives on confusion
—facts bring clarity. An informed perspective on EU enlargement allows citizens of the Western Balkans to critically assess information and reject false narratives.

The EU sees media, information, and digital literacy as essential tools to build resilience against disinformation in the Western Balkans.

Integrity
journalism In an era flooded with information, journalism integrity is more essential than ever—not because it tells us what to think, but because it gives us with what we need to think clearly: facts.

Good journalism tells you what happened
— and lets you decide what to think.

Biased stories try to tell you what to think
— without showing the full picture.

The European
Union and the
Western Balkans The EU sees the Western Balkans as part of its future — politically, economically, and culturally. The process is slow, yes. And difficult. But it's still moving and people are trying. New steps, new instruments, new investments are being introduced — even if they don't always make headlines. And yes — meeting EU standards is demanding

But it's not about pleasing invisible administration

It's about creating stronger institutions, fairer societies, and better opportunities for people So how do we move past the myths?

Start with this:

Don't believe everything at first glance.

Take a pause.

Ask: Where is this from? Who's behind it? What's the bigger picture? Misconceptions are easy.

Real change takes effort.

And so does understanding.

A strong, independent, and professional media environment is essential for countering disinformation.

By fostering media integrity and independence and supporting fact-checking initiatives, the EU reinforces trust in credible media in the Western Balkans.

Not everything you see online is real.

And more and more of it isn't even made by people.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Test your knowledge.
Sharpen your media skills.
Find out how much you really know.

Facts Come First Truth is not something we can bend to fit how we feel.
Truth is what can be proven, checked, confirmed.

Being aware of fake news doesn't mean you have to distrust everything.
It means learning to recognise when you're being influenced.

Have you ever realised you were influenced or mislead?

Do you believe that you can make a difference between truth and myth?

Citizens of Western Balkans talked to our Young European Ambassadors check bellow:

FACT CONTENT LAB
IN PODGORICA

At the WeBalkans Facts Content Lab in Podgorica, journalists, fact-checkers, producers, and Young European Ambassadors from across the Western Balkans joined forces. Not just to talk, but to create.

Together, they explored disinformation around EU enlargement, tackle misconceptions, and discover how narratives shape people perspectives. No lectures - just collaboration, creativity, and real-time content production.

Podgorica Lab Participants PDF

Click for Facts Come First Press Release PDF

Click for Photo Album