To allocate more money to fight against disinformation, to support high-quality press, to increase media literacy of citizens - such proposals sounded on Wednesday in the European Parliament during the debates about the information impact of Russia. Opponents of enthusiasts against the information influence of Russia objected that this is all - paranoia.

"Experience shows that Russian disinformation can be extremely successful, and therefore we must redouble our efforts in this area," said Julian King, a member of the European Commission (the EU government) from Britain at the beginning of the debate, responsible, among other things, for the information security of the EU.

According to King, Moscow purposefully and centrally tries to disseminate distorted information "by as many channels as possible and in as many languages ??as possible" and regards it as a perfectly acceptable means of fighting the West. In support of the last thought, King referred to the military doctrine of Russia.

MEP from Latvia Sandra Kalniete, opening the debate, called for increased funding and the staff of a special group in the EU engaged in countering disinformation. About this, then, almost all the colleagues of Kalniete spoke, except for those who are inclined to defend Russia.

Former Latvian Foreign Minister Kalniete urged the head of the EU foreign policy department, Federicu Mogherini and other EU diplomats, to remind regularly of the problem of deliberate disinformation in meetings with Russians.

In addition, according to Kalniete, EU countries should fight more actively against money laundering, because of them, in her opinion, are financed by the Kremlin-controlled or sympathetic publications in Europe.

"Both national governments and the European Union should support high-quality journalism, otherwise it will disappear," Sandra Kalniete added..

Several European deputies called for social networks, such as Facebook, which actually turned into a mass media, to be subject to the same laws as traditional media, and, in particular, to monitor the correctness of the information distributed through them.

"I like the idea of ??Macron about what should be seen, including on platforms in the form of social networks, where information came from, who sponsors it," said the Dutch MEP Hans van Baalen and stressed that opposing propaganda does not need counter-propaganda, but data.

Regular debate is a form of work of the European Parliament that does not provide for the adoption of documents. Once a month, one of the factions can appoint a debate on the topic of their choice, and this time the European People's Party faction chose the topic "Russia and the impact of Russian propaganda on the countries of the European Union".

In November 2016, the European Parliament adopted an extensive resolution on combating Russian propaganda.

During the debates on Wednesday, the replicas were short, the MEPs did not go into details and deep reflections on the possibility and need for an active fight against the information influence of Russia, and more expressed themselves with slogans and appeals. Approximately the same were the answers of their colleagues from among eurosceptics and supporters of Moscow.

"These people who are calling us to fight against Russian propaganda are spreading disinformation themselves and dragging us into a dangerous cold war with Russia," said Italian Barbara Spinelli, assuring in advance that she "does not protect the Kremlin".

"When, tell me, please, did Russia disseminate false information?" Asked Udo Voigt, the former leader of the National Democratic Party of Germany, which many in this country consider a neo-Nazi. - But we saw in Iraq, saw in Libya, how our press lied, they spread disinformation! ".

"This is paranoia, and it is supported and disseminated in order to prevent us from establishing good relations with Russia," said Spanish MEP Javier Cousso.

The deputy of the European Parliament from the British Independence Party of the United Kingdom Gerrard Batten managed to take a stand in the debate: both against Putin and his critics.

"To make me misunderstood, I must immediately say: I believe that Mr. Putin is a bandit, and he rules a gangster state," the Briton began his retort.

"But you - you're just trying to find a scapegoat!" Continued Gerrard, a member of the party hostile to the European Union and the European bureaucracy. - You have lost popularity - because of your actions, because of your policy of saving [. ] and now you are just looking for what to distract the attention of voters ".

Source: BBC.