During the plenary session (11-14 March 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the follow up taken by the European Union External Action (EEAS) two years after the EP Report on EU strategic communication to counteract propaganda against it by third parties.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

FOTYGA, Anna (ECR, PL)

MIMICA, Neven (HR, EC)

AUŠTREVIČIUS, Petras (Renew, LT)

HARMS, Rebecca (Greens/EFA, DE)

European External Action Service

FREUND, Eugen (S&D, AT)

propaganda against EU (T)

2019 European elections (T)

EU strategic communication to counteract propaganda against it by third parties: extracts from the debate on the follow up taken by the EEAS two years after the EP Report

SOUNDBITE (English), Anna El&#380;bieta FOTYGA (ECR, PL), Rapporteur , We stress the importance of the quality journalism, of sustaining the freedom of speech and freedom of media. We also indicate the notion of possible legislative regulatory activity both at the level of EU and international level.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anna El&#380;bieta FOTYGA (ECR, PL), rapporteur, We especially indicate types of misinformation dis-information and hostile propaganda. And the third part is dedicated to meters of safeguarding our EU elections.

SOUNDBITE (English), Neven MIMICA, Member of the EC in charge of International Cooperation and Development, The response against hybrid threats should be a joint enterprise.We are doing and will continue to do our part but the Member States needs to step up efforts collectively too, as the European Council indicated in its conclusions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Neven MIMICA, Member of the EC in charge of International Cooperation and Development, This is a long term endeavor which goes beyond this year's European elections. So we count on the European Parliament's continued support also in budgetary terms.

SOUNDBITE (German), Eugen FREUND (S&amp;D, AT), The problem that we are looking at is that technological progress has already overtaken countermeasures and is continuing to move forward. We are often fighting yesterday's wars with resources from the day before yesterday. If we look at the area of artificial intelligence then we shudder in horror at what awaits us. It will be possible to put words into mouths of those who have never said it and it would be impossible to tell. Genuine videos from fake ones. How can a politician say that they have never said something when you can see it with your own eyes.

SOUNDBITE (English), Petras AUSTREVICIUS (ALDE, LT), We have to address current deficiencies in the east Strat-Comm as lack of regional expertise institutional weaknesses and etc., this requires urgent decisions in turning the East Stratcom task force into a fully fledged structure with increased support and funding.

SOUNDBITE (German), Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE), And it is also significant that a portion of the EU work that department should work more closely with the member states and the Member states secret services and NATO are part of that. Point 1A of the report cannot be neglected however independent free pluralistic media are the alpha and omega the beginning of the end of the fight against propaganda and misinformation. Thank you.