Ramona Mănescu: The EU must decide faster about our position on strategic communication and counter-propaganda

”Our lack of actions shows that the EU doesn’t perceive Russia as a real threat”, EPP MEP Ramona Mănescu said during a debate in the European Parliament regarding the influence of Russian propaganda on EU countries.

We must end this <dolce far niente> and decide faster about our position on strategic communication and counter-propaganda, and such decision must be followed by actions with and appropriate budget, the MEP insisted.

Full statement by EPP MEP Ramona Mănescu:

”Please allow me to start by remembering a declaration of Ms. Margarita Simonyan, the chief editor of Russia Today (RT): RT is capable of <conducting information war against the whole Western world>, using <the information weapon>.

RT’s strategic aim is to <conquer> and to <grow an audience> in order to make use of it in <critical moments>. It seems that Kremlin decided a long time ago that the EU is an enemy of Russian interests and it should be treated accordingly, by any means. At the same time, our lack of actions shows that the EU doesn’t perceive Russia as a real threat, in any way. We must end this <dolce far niente> and decide faster about our position on strategic communication and counter-propaganda, and such decision must be followed by actions with and appropriate budget.

Either we respond on the same scale, or we start an open dialogue with Russia, based on our interest and our priorities. We must understand that it is not an ideological conflict. Kremlin’s propaganda is targeting very concrete files. Using the old but effective strategy of <divide et impera> is clearly winning this game, if we don’t take strong actions. One of such files, targeted by Russia, is the energy file. If we discuss energy strategy with Russia, we shall make clear our position that must meet the needs of all Member States, not just some of them, and to be firm on it. If we allow Russia to divide us on such an important matter, EU’s interests suffer.”

The European Union has set up an expert group to help identify fake news and propose ways to tackle the problem amid concern that false information is influencing elections. The team of 39 experts, which held its first meeting Monday, is tasked with establishing how big the problem is, who should combat fake news and how.

The European commissioner responsible for digital affairs, Mariya Gabriel, says that “fake news is spreading at a worrying rate. It threatens the reputation of the media and the well-being of our democracies”.