Debate: Cooperation and similarities between the Putin regime and extreme right and separatist movements in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 APRIL 2022
Speaker: Věra Jourová
Language: EN

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 these 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. That is why the EU is now 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. 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 supremacist and other far—right groups, encouraging them with propaganda, which leads to polarisation and division in European societies. 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. 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 State authorities and partner agencies, to continuously exchange information and gather intelligence to draw up assessments of the terrorist and right—wing extremist threats. 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. 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 interferences and that they use the European funding they receive in the best possible way. 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. One example, very recently Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s Sluha Narodu Party was granted temporary affiliate 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. 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; 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; a financial cap on contributions coming from member parties organisations located outside the EU but inside the Council of Europe set as 10% of the overall contributions. They are capped at 40% of the overall annual budget of the party or foundation. 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. Disinformation campaigns from Russia are part of hybrid warfare tactics to undermine the EU’s 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. We also are addressing the issue of the lack of transparency in political advertising online and offline. The new regulation we tabled in November last year aims to introduce high common transparency standards for political advertising services circulated in the internal market, including from outside the European Union across all media. It contains specific rules on targeting and amplification of political ads, promoting accountability and discouraging bad practices and interference to empower citizens. When adopted, these rules will also increase the transparency of money used to finance advertising campaigns. I hope we can advance rapidly on the proposals on European political parties and on political advertising. Honourable Members, thank you for your attention. I look forward for the debate.