MEPs debate with the Commission in a topical debate the cases of cooperation and similarities between the Putin regime and extreme right and separatist movements in Europe. opening statements by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency and by Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Russia (T)

JOUROVÁ, Věra (EC)

GLUCKSMANN, Raphaël (S&D, FR)

Cooperation and similarities between the Putin regime and extreme right and separatist movements in Europe: opening statements by Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), Author, and by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission

SOUNDBITE (French), Rapha&euml;l GLUCKSMANN (S&amp;D, FR), Author, President, Vice-President colleagues. Bucha, Mariupol, women violated children, tortured civilians executed, that's the true face of Putinism, which for 20 years our leaders didn't want to put a name to or combat on our borders at the very heart of our cities. Right now, the war in Ukraine is forcing us to open our eyes.

SOUNDBITE (French), Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), Author, It's such a serious moment that it would be suicidal not to look at the truth. And the truth is that European political forces for years now have sought the agreement of a regime which is aimed at upsetting and destabilising our democracies. The truth is that an extreme right in Putin has found its model and its financial support. Political leaders in France, Germany, Austria who are teaching lessons of patriotism, have served a foreign tyrant who is hostile to the very principles and interests of our nations in the whole of Europe.

SOUNDBITE (French), Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), Author, The truth is that all too often we have closed our eyes on these so-called patriots and we now have to look at them straight in the eyes and face them straight on. The truth is that yes, there is a candidate for the presidency of the Republic in France who owes millions of euros to oligarchs close to the Kremlin. Yes, the truth is that Marine Le Pen has sold herself to Vladimir Putin a long time ago, but she still wants to be president of France, and we cannot forget this.

SOUNDBITE (French), Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), Author, At the time of the invasion, the Rassamblement National tried to remove one and a half million brochures, which showed her smiling and shaking Putin's hand. But there were other photo photos as well where they've met with the head of the the intelligence service, who right now is directly managing the Le Pen family.

SOUNDBITE (French), Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), Author, And there are so many people around Le Pen who are serving Russia. And this is not limited to France alone. They this is something which is seen throughout the far right parties in Europe, Lega, Afd, for example. They've never spoken out against the Russian attacks on us or condemning what's happened in Mariupol, condemning what's happened on our soil by the mercenaries from Russia as well.

SOUNDBITE (French), Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), Author, The Foreign Party, it's them. The collaborators, it's them. It's a tradition. Whether we're talking about this in Russian or German our far right is always speaking the same language, which is far removed from democracy. It's the language of autocrats. Truth is sometimes painful colleagues, but we have to look to search it right through to the end to be credible in combating Putin.

SOUNDBITE (French), Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), Author, We really have to sort out what's happening here on the left and on the right, the Liberals, the Social Democrats, the Conservatives. But it's only in the far right that this corruption submission to the Putin regime has become a political and ideological project. So let's call a spade a spade. We have to urgently act on the foreign money which is used to support political parties.

SOUNDBITE (French), Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), Author, We have to look at what's happening in NGOs. We have to shed light on the links which link on the the Russian oligarchs and European political leaders. Our delegations have often been too weak to corrupt and didn't want to stand in the way of Putin entering Ukraine. So we have to fight for freedom and democracy in Europe. Right now there is nothing more urgent or sacred. Let's fight that fight together right through to the better end.

SOUNDBITE (English), Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission, Madam President, Honourable members, thank you for organising this debate. Let me first say something about the recent revelations of civilian killings in the areas from which Russia is withdrawing. I am shocked by the reports of unimaginable horror in this areas. And indeed, as Mr Glucksmann has just said, this is the face of evil. These are war crimes and the perpetrators will be held accountable.

SOUNDBITE (English), Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission, That's why the EU is still setting a joint investigation team with Ukraine to collect evidence and investigate these crimes. The Russian unjustified invasion of Ukraine is a war also against democracy. Russia had tried for years to destabilise Ukraine and take it away from the aspiration of its people for democracy. They failed and now moved to the next stage with a brutal invasion.

SOUNDBITE (English), Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission, This highlights once more the need to prompt actions to strengthen the resilience of our own democracies and address their vulnerabilities, our vulnerabilities. Let me start first on the extreme right in Russia. The International Institute for Strategic Studies reported in 2020 that Russia supports white supremacists and other far right groups, encouraging them with propaganda, which leads to polarisation and division in European societies.

SOUNDBITE (English), Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission, Russian right wing extremist groups have been known to have links to European groups, and there have been reports of Russia funding and training right wing extremist individuals and groups in the EU member states. For instance, the Russian imperial movement supported by the Russian authorities and designated a right wing terrorist organisation by the United States, cooperates with European groups such as the Nordic Resistance Movement banned by Finland against a globalised elite.

SOUNDBITE (English), Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission, The Commission is working with member states to tackle the threat of violent right wing extremism in the EU, including via Europol, which is in close contact with member states' authorities and partner agencies to continuously exchange information and gather intelligence to draw up assessments of the terrorist and right wing extremist threats.

SOUNDBITE (English), Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission, Secondly, political parties financing while the financing of national parties remains a competence of the EU member states. The EU has the competence to regulate European political parties. This is why we have recently put forward a recast proposal of the regulation on European political parties and foundations.

SOUNDBITE (English), Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission, We intend to strike a fine balance between, on the one hand, giving more possibilities to European political parties and foundations to fulfil their role in building and nourishing a truly European political space. And, on the other hand, making sure that their action is free from undue interference and that they use the European funding they receive in the best possible way.

SOUNDBITE (English), Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission, Currently, all European political parties have member parties from outside the EU. These are often political parties in the opposition to authoritarian regimes which fight for democracy and human rights under very difficult circumstances. For them, belonging to a European political party and receiving its support in the international scene is of the utmost importance.

SOUNDBITE (English), Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission, One example very recently, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy's party was granted temporary affiliated status in the Alde party in the current political context. The Commission considers that it is important to send to these parties a strong political message of support and encouragement.

SOUNDBITE (English), Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission, At the same time, we need strong safeguards against foreign interference as included in the Commission's proposal, namely a very strict regulation of donations which are totally forbidden if coming from outside the EU.

SOUNDBITE (English), Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission, The extension of the obligation to comply with the fundamental values of the EU to member parties or organisations of European political parties and foundations located both outside and inside Europe. Financial cap for the contributions coming from member parties organisations located outside the EU but inside the Council of Europe, set as 10 percent of the overall contributions, they are capped at 40 percent of the overall annual budget of the party or foundation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission, Also defending our democracies includes defending the foundations on which it stands, such as media freedom, open discourse and informed decisions by voters. And we are acting on all fronts. We are fighting disinformation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission, Disinformation campaigns from Russia are part of hybrid warfare tactics to undermine the EU use unity. Far right propaganda content are fuelling online polarisation, and we stand firm against all those who want to divide our societies through hate and violence.