Russia’s Meddling in the EU Demands Urgent Attention

With the upcoming European elections in June, it is imperative the EU stays vigilant to foreign interference

By Marco Németh. Originally published on February 21st, 2024 on the website of Visegrad Insight.

The recent revelations that officials handling security and defence had their phones hacked and that a Latvian MEP was a Russian spy is only the tip of the iceberg of Russian interference in the European Union. To protect the integrity of the European elections, the Union must foster a political culture resistant to foreign influence and double down on countering disinformation.

With the European elections fast approaching and their outcomes still uncertain, two concerns have come to the fore: the reality of Russian interference in the European Union and the growing threat of the far-right gaining key parliamentary positions.

Recent examples of a longstanding problem

It was announced on Wednesday that several members and staff from the subcommittee on Security and Defense of the European Parliament had their phones hacked. This revelation follows trends noticed in previous years with politicians having their phones infected by Pegasus and Candiru spyware.

Members of the European Parliament have been asked to hand in their phones for routine sweeps, heightening the well-founded concerns of parliamentarians that the level of foreign interference in the EU is staggering.

A few weeks ago, when it was revealed that a Latvian MEP was accused of spying for Russia, many politicians and key figures were taken by surprise. Altogether, 433 MEPs expressed “deep concern about reports that Latvian MEP Tatjana Ždanoka might have acted as an informant for Russian security service FSB.”

For those closely following the topic, however, this disclosure does not come as a surprise. In fact, it was only a matter of time before a case like this occurred.

For a start, this isn’t the first instance of an MEP being accused of espionage. In 2017, prosecutors in Hungary also accused nationalist Jobbik party member and MEP Béla Kovács of spying for Russia.

Russian tentacles all over the EU

It is also a revelation which is symptomatic of the Kremlin’s increasing use of soft propaganda, through which it tries to persuade citizens across Europe to vote for parties in favour of better relations with Russia.

In Slovakia, for example, the spread of disinformation has become a significant challenge to the political landscape, particularly around elections. According to Reset, a London-based non-profit organisation, over 365,000 misleading messages were detected on Slovak social media in the first two weeks of September 2023, precisely during the last elections​​.

This deluge of disinformation, in combination with various societal factors, was seen as influencing the political discourse and contributing to the victory of Robert Fico and his anti-Ukranian SMER party. It’s important to note that such influences can sway public opinion and affect election results, highlighting the need for robust fact-checking and increased media literacy among voters.

And these disinformation posts serve not only to support government politicians, as is common in Slovakia, but also to directly benefit Russia. This ranges from Fico’s repeated lies about Nazis in Ukraine – a claim often used by Putin to justify his invasion of Ukraine – to actions by the supposedly more ‘Western-friendly’ Peter Pellegrini, Slovak Parliament speaker.

For instance, Pellegrini recently requested the Slovak hockey federation to allow players from the Russian KHL to participate in the upcoming World Championships. This move, while ostensibly sports-related, can also be perceived in a political context, as it aligns with efforts by the Russian regime to use cultural and sports exchanges to spread pro-regime sentiments.

While most politicians are at least somewhat trying to stay relevant in the eyes of Western politicians, the coalition party SNS (Slovak National Party) is strongly embracing Russian propaganda. Every week, it proposes ideas to appeal to its Russophile voters.

The latest initiative from the Party’s leader, Andrej Danko, was to re-establish friendship groups with Russia and Belarus.

Such instances highlight the nuanced ways in which political messages can be disseminated, extending beyond traditional media and political campaigns into areas like sports and cultural events.

Of course, Russia targets a large number of countries, but its disinformation campaign is particularly effective in such countries like Slovakia, which have a specific set of attributes. These include existing sympathies towards Russia and its regime but also some weak links, such as a lack of trust in the authorities, the traditional media and a lack of high-quality fact-checking.

European elections at stake

As we approach the European elections in June, the spectre of Russian interference looms large. This concern is clearly warranted considering the various instances of meddling and influence campaigns witnessed in recent years, such as phone hacking scandals and the Slovak instances above.

The European Parliament, cognisant of these threats, has been more proactive in its efforts to counter foreign interference and disinformation. For the past three years, it has operated a special committee focused on foreign interference and disinformation, underscoring the seriousness with which it views these threats​.

Last summer, the European Parliament also proposed a comprehensive set of measures designed to bolster the integrity of its processes and safeguard against external influences. These included enhancing transparency in parliamentary work and mandating registration for every Parliament event.

“They will form our line of defence against autocratic third countries trying to subdue European decision-making and they will help us to protect our open and free societies,” said President Roberta Metsola.

However, the full implementation of these measures remains a work in progress, and their effectiveness in completely preventing interference may be limited. This is particularly concerning given the increasing influence of far-right groups within the European Parliament, some of whom echo narratives favourable to Russian interests.

As we stand at this critical juncture, it is essential for the European Union and its member states to remain vigilant. Enhancing fact-checking mechanisms and fostering a political culture resistant to foreign influence are imperative, as is preventing mainstream political groups from aligning with any far-right party propositions.

The integrity of the European electoral process and, by extension, the democratic fabric of the Union depends on our collective efforts to recognise and counter these covert threats. Only through concerted and transparent efforts can we hope to preserve the sanctity of our democratic institutions and the values they embody.

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