The European Parliament is examining allegations that a pro-Russian network paid MEPs from at least six countries to spread pro-Kremlin propaganda and influence the European Parliament elections on June. “The president is aware of the case and she is looking into the specific allegations,” said the spokesperson for the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.
The Czech Republic reported on Wednesday that it had uncovered a Kremlin-linked propaganda network that is trying to influence the European Parliament and the upcoming European elections on June 6-9, in particular with messages against Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
“These are deputies who they receive money (from Russia). It’s external pressure, but there is cooperation from within. Even in our country, at the highest levels of our democratic institutions”, said Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo, rotating president of the EU, on Thursday. The Belgian secret services are collaborating closely with the Czechs to shed light on the matter.
The media reporting on the plot in the Czech Republic claim, citing national intelligence sources, that the MEPs involved in this case and who would have received compensation for their participation come from Germany, France, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Hungary , although they do not name any specific legislators.
The European Parliament’s press service explained that the institution is already examining the allegations regarding the site “Voice of Europe”around which the pro-Russian influence network was developed, and said that it could limit access to the site by the structures of the European Parliament, as it has already done with others sanctioned by the EU, for having spread false narratives about the war in Ukraine.
In a resolution from February this year, the European Parliament itself warned against Russia’s “continued efforts to undermine European democracy” and its recruitment of members of the European Parliament as agents of influence or the use of European politicians “acting as propaganda for the Kremlin” as amplifiers serving its interests.
The first reactions within the European Chamber came from the Greens and Liberals groups, with the leaders urging the President of the European Parliament to initiate a rapid and transparent investigation that reveals the extent of the pro-Russian influence operation and allows action against the MEPs involved.
“The European elections are in ten weeks. We must make sure that the Russians do not pay any of the candidates,” demanded Dutch environmentalist Bas Eickhout, while his German colleague, Terry Reintke, called for “severe punishment” for the MEPs involved .
“If incumbent MEPs or candidates in the next European elections have received money from the Russian government or its representatives, this must be reported and action must be taken. European voters need to know whether their MEPs or candidates in the next elections are working with the support of Russia or its representatives,” agreed Renew Europe liberal leader Valerie Hayer.
The group called for the European Parliament to discuss the scandal at its next plenary session, which will be held on 10 and 11 April in Brussels, and asked for the European Commission’s vice-president for values, Vera Jourova, to also participate in the debate.
The European Parliament has a series of sanctions available against MEPs for violations of internal rules of ethics and transparency, ranging from the revocation of the daily allowance for a maximum of 60 days, to the temporary suspension of parliamentary activity, to the ban on represent the institution in different locations or limit access to confidential information. The European Parliament cannot withdraw the seat of any Member, as it is the responsibility of each Member State, nor prevent them from standing as candidates in the European elections next June.