The European Parliament has approved a resolution with measures to counter possible Russian interference, also in view of the European elections in June. Among the measures introduced, the strengthening of security and internal investigations and mandatory security training for all deputies and their staff. The text passed with a very large majority, with 429 yes, 27 no and 48 abstentions. Fdi, Lega and M5s did not vote.
The resolution was defined in relation to the case of the German AfD MPand party leader in the June elections, Maximilian Krah, under investigation in Germany on suspicion that he received money from Russia and China. MEPs also called on Germany’s far-right party to “publicly and without delay declare its financial relations, particularly with the Kremlin.” An aide to Krah was arrested in Germany on charges of spying for China.
Lega and M5S abstained
The MEPs of Brothers of Italy, Lega and M5S present in the Chamber in Strasbourg today abstained, according to what emerges from the vote report published by the Chamber. The other Italian MEPs voted in favor. In the ID group, the AfD MEPs voted against; in the ECR, among others, the French Nicolas Bay voted against, while the Polish Pis voted in favor. Some deputies from the Left also voted against the resolution, such as the Irishman Mick Wallace
What the resolution says
The European Parliament calls on the political leadership of the EU and the member states to “urgently” counter Russian interference attempts, also in view of the next European elections and “firmly” denounces the attempts supported by the Kremlin to interfere and undermine democratic processes Europeans, as indicated in several recent revelations. Any such tactics, MPs say, must have consequences. Parliament also says it is shocked by the “credible” accusations according to which some MEPs were allegedly paid to spread Russian propaganda and many would have participated in the activities of the pro-Russian media ‘Voice of Europe’, in the context of the war against Ukraine. MEPs therefore ask the leaders of the EU and member states to counter Russian interference efforts, not only in the institutions but throughout the EU. We need to act urgently, they underline, given the upcoming European elections on 6-9 June.
Referring to suspected cases of Russian interference from across Europe, including Bulgaria, Germany and Slovakia, MPs are concerned about the recent interrogation of AfD leader MP Maximilian Krah by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as he was suspected of having received money from Kremlin agents and for the arrest in Germany, on 23 April 2024, of one of his parliamentary assistants on charges of being a Chinese spy. Parliament calls on the AfD to declare its financial relations as soon as possible, in particular with the Kremlin, and to publicly disclose the purpose and exact amount of all payments from sources linked to the Kremlin.
MEPs say that while Russia remains the main source of foreign interference and disinformation in the EU, other countries are also active in this field. They underline that the EU’s response to these threats can only be effective if it is based on a long-term political approach carried out jointly by the EU and Member States. To strengthen Parliament’s defenses, the resolution suggests strengthening internal security procedures, including thorough investigations to assess possible cases of foreign interference and the full application of its sanctions framework. The deputies also ask for a Mandatory safety training for Members and staffadequate security clearance and enhanced staff oversight.
The resolution calls on the Council to include Kremlin-backed media, other broadcast and media organizations and individuals responsible for propaganda and disinformation campaigns in the EU in the next 14th Russian sanctions package. The deputies want to repeat the sanctions adopted by the Czech government against the “Voice of Europe”, as well as against the pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk and his close collaborator Artem Marchevskyi. Finally, they deplore the ability of the Voice of Europe to restart its operations from Kazakhstan and call on Member States to ensure that it cannot be accessed.
EU League, slander in resolution
“Once again, the EU is missing the opportunity to seriously address the delicate and current issue of foreign interference. Unfortunately the resolution voted today by the European Parliamentlike others in the recent past, it still contained slander and fake news about the Leagueslanderous accusations never proven, but above all denied by the Italian authorities themselves and revealed to be a fabrication”, declares the Northern League delegation to the EP. The League, “which has always expressed its concern about attempts at foreign interference by hostile regimes and brought its contribution to the competent commissions, cannot and will never share certain contents: this is why we abstained. And it is singular that forces that have experienced Qatargate up close, the biggest scandal of interference and corruption in the history of EU institutions, use double standards and today exploit this issue to attack political opponents. Yet another confirmation of an inadequate majority, which must be changed in the next elections.”
