Russia’s propaganda war against Poland
15.3.2022
Question for written answer E-001011/2022
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 138
Anna Fotyga (ECR)
The Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy will be well aware of the extent of Russian influence in the European Union, be this in particular Member State capitals or specific industries. Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is an obvious example of this influence. Not only is Mr Schröder an agent for Russian energy interests, but he was also an adviser at Ringier Axel Springer. This fact is significant because one of the Kremlin’s tools is disinformation that is designed to instil fear, create divisions and weaken its most powerful opponents.
President Charles Michel has made it clear that accusations of racism on the Ukrainian-Polish border were Russian propaganda intended to fuel uncertainty in African countries while a diplomatic battle was being waged at the UN[1]. These reports echoed the attacks made on Poland during the migrant crises that were created and exploited by the Kremlin in 2015 and 2021. As a frontline country, Poland has demonstrated the leadership and resistance required of it, therefore becoming a target for attacks. Former US Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher has recognised that the EU owes Poland an apology. ‘When it comes to issues with the rule of law, a lot of the information that has reached the West has been the result of Russian disinformation’, she said[2].
- 1.Is the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy aware that attacks on Poland are largely elicited by the Kremlin, and does he agree with the opinions quoted above?
- 2.Does the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy plan to use the tools available to him to develop a map of accusations and attacks on Poland that are elicited by the Kremlin and serve its goals, and does he also plan to establish which of these were replicated by the media group for which Gerhard Schröder was still an adviser a week ago?