The Committee on Foreign Interference has prepared a series of recommendations aimed to beef up the EU’s capabilities on foreign interference, including a sanctions regime to fight foreign meddling and disinformation, general information campaigns spreading awareness about its dangers, and tightened rules for social media platforms serving as vehicles for foreign interference. The recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the use of desinformation by the Kremlin, as well as the recent EU's decisions to ban Sputknik and Russia Today are also at the center of the debate.

debate

plenary session

JOUROVÁ, Věra (EC)

KALNIETE, Sandra (EPP, LV)

BORRELL FONTELLES, Josep (PSE, ES, EC)

SCHIEDER, Andreas (S&D, AT)

VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Viola (Greens/EFA, DE)

GROOTHUIS, Bart (Renew, NL)

Special committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation

Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU: extracts from the debate and results of the vote

Title: Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU: extracts from the debate and results of the vote

SOUNDBITE (English), Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), Rapporteur, Putin's propaganda machinery was not turned on only on February 24. It has been working in Europe for decades already attempting to poison and divide our societies.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), Rapporteur, While the war is ongoing in Europe, online platforms and tech companies need to take a stand by proactively suspending. Accounts engaged in denying, glorifying and justifying justifying aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity. They have to reinforce content in Russian and Ukrainian languages to resist the pressure from Russian governments disinformation. In short, any tech platform complying with Putin's censorship request is an accomplice of Putin's aggression.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, We have intensified our work to help our partners in the region to tackle the issue of interference and information manipulation, especially in the Western Balkans. Which are currently being targeted systematically by these campaigns.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, We are not. Trying to decide what is true and what is false. I am not a minister of the truth. We don't have ministers of truth. But. We have to focus on foreign actors to intentionally, in a coordinated manner, try to manipulate our information environment, to advance our own purposes and to harm us.

SOUNDBITE (French), KLINKERT Brigitte, French Minister Delegate in charge of Integration attached to the Minister of Labour, Employment and Integration, We have to continue to raise democratic barriers that exist. We need to develop media. We need to develop education amongst everybody, be there young or less young in the digital sphere. And make sure that reliable information is available on the Internet. We need to raise awareness amongst the population of cognitive manipulation that they can be exposed to online, including when it comes to using new technologies.

SOUNDBITE (English), V&#283;ra JOUROV&#193;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Values and Transparency, Independent media and journalists are a key pillar of a functioning democracy. Dmitry Muratov, the Nobel Peace PRISE winner and the editor in chief of Novaya Gazeta, said that journalists are the antidote against tyranny and we. Need strong and independent media in Europe. And we see that there is a negative trend. They are under economic pressure. So we need to introduce the measures how to protect the media, freedom and pluralism better in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (German), Andreas SCHIEDER (S&amp;D, AT), two years of intensive work in the committee have demonstrated that there are attacks from outside. It's not just Russia. Other actors are also involved. China, Turkey and other countries are certainly taking part in the information war. Their support for them within the European Union, especially the far right parties and politicians, are heavily involved. In statements and also in the financing of their political campaigns by foreign powers.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bart GROOTHUIS (Renew, NL), Some people would rather see ransomware as a mere technical or criminal problem instead of the Russian state deliberately. Enabling criminals to weaken Europe, some would see former Prime Minister Gerhard. Schroeder working for Gazprom as a private matter rather. Than a broader problem with many top politicians. Working for authoritarian regimes,. Which is called elite capture. Some see Russian troll firms as an old phenomenon, merely finding its way into the digital age. Instead of clear attempts to sow distrust, weaken and divide Europe on an unprecedented. Scale.

SOUNDBITE (English), Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), The world. Where this information is not countered is dangerous and scary. A very sad example is Putin's Russia, where propaganda has reached dystopian levels, where Putin tries to. Intimidate its population into believing that a democratic Ukraine, led by a president with. Jewish roots, is run by a genocidal Nazi regime. Critical thinking is the best remedy against foreign interference on the continent of enlightenment. Critical. Thinking is already part of our EU DNA. This needs to be further strengthen all this while safeguarding our fundamental values of freedom of expression, assembly and education. And I hope we stay on the right side of history.

Results of the vote 693 voted 552 in favor 81 against - 60 abstention