Intelligence reports linking MEP Carles Puigdemont’s entourage to Russia’s EU destabilisation strategy
3.9.2021
Question for written answer E-004067/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Jordi Cañas (Renew)
The New York Times has published a report[1] alleging the existence of European intelligence reports linking MEP and former president of the regional government of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, and his bureau chief, Josep Lluís Alay, to meetings with Russian officials and former FSB intelligence officers involved in the Kremlin’s hybrid warfare strategy, with the aim of securing Russian backing for Catalan independence.
Following these meetings, a new organisation emerged, called Tsunami democràtic, which organised violent demonstrations after the court ruling convicting Catalan separatist political leaders, who organised an illegal referendum in October 2017 and promoted Catalonia’s unilateral declaration of independence.
Russia’s rapprochement with Catalan separatists would fit in nicely with President Putin’s strategy to destabilise and weaken the EU through disinformation campaigns and by supporting separatist and/or far-right political movements.
In view of this:
- 1.Is the Commission aware of and/or is it in possession of the European intelligence reports revealed in the NYT story?
- 2.What action will the Commission take to prevent the strategies of separatist political movements from undermining the EU project and undermining Articles 4(2) and 21(2) TEU?
- [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/03/world/europe/spain-catalonia-russia.html?