On Russiagate: allegations of Russian interference in the democratic processes of the European Union
B-9-2024-0125
on behalf of the S&D Group · Rapporteur: Pedro Marques, Gabriele Bischoff, Andreas Schieder, Raphaël Glucksmann, Tonino Picula, Domènec Ruiz Devesa
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Parliament's resolution on allegations of Russian interference in EU democratic processes expresses concern at press claims that a Member of the European Parliament worked for the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).¶ It calls for an internal investigation into foreign interference and misconduct by Members, and for full implementation of Parliament's transparency and integrity rules.¶¶ It urges EU institutions and member states to protect the 6-9 June 2024 European elections and to treat foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) as a permanent cross-cutting threat.¶¶ It asks the Commission and the Council to deliver the Defence of Democracy Package, close loopholes in party financing law, regulate big platforms and strengthen cyber defence.¶ It calls for mandatory security training for Members and staff, security clearance procedures, and a ban on entities linked to the Russian government from the EU Transparency Register.¶¶
Key points
- Expresses deep concern over press allegations that a Member of the European Parliament was working on behalf of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).¶
- Considers it imperative to immediately conduct a thorough internal investigation to assess all possible cases of Russian interference and misbehaviour by its own Members.¶
- Calls for the highest political and administrative attention to the 13 July 2023 reform recommendations and full implementation of the new transparency and integrity rules adopted in September 2023.¶
- Calls on all European institutions to raise their ambitions for implementing the European ethics body.¶
- Urges EU institutions and member states to take decisive action so that only the will of the people, without foreign interference, is the basis of government authority, focusing on the 6-9 June 2024 European elections.¶
- Urges the European institutions to adopt a permanent cross-cutting approach to combating foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), and welcomes the European External Action Service (EEAS) report of 23 January 2024.¶
- Calls for the EU and its neighbouring countries, namely the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries, to increase cooperation against disinformation.¶
- Expresses concern about Russia's connections with several political parties and politicians in the EU, and notes Russian actors have circumvented funding limits through loans, commercial agreements and financial facilitation.¶
- Insists on continuing concrete reforms in Parliament to enhance integrity and transparency and show zero tolerance for corruption and corrupting political interference.¶
- Calls on the Secretariat of the EU Transparency Register to ban any entities with direct or indirect relations with the Government of Russia, pursuant to the Council decision of 3 June 2022.¶
- Expects the Commission and the Council to deliver the Defence of Democracy Package to close loopholes in EU party financing legislation, set a compulsory scheme for big platforms and step up cyber defence.¶
- Calls for mandatory, regular security training for all Members and Parliament staff, appropriate security clearance for officials and group staff, and effective monitoring systems to detect foreign interference.¶
Who is affected
- Members of the European Parliament and their offices: subject to mandatory security training and possible security clearance procedures.¶
- Parliament staff, political group staff and accredited parliamentary assistants: subject to security training and clearance evaluation.
- Entities with direct or indirect relations with the Government of Russia: to be banned from the EU Transparency Register.¶
- EU institutions and member states: urged to protect elections and increase cooperation against disinformation.¶¶
- The Commission and the Council: expected to deliver the Defence of Democracy Package and related measures.¶
Figures and deadlines
- 6-9 June 2024: dates of the European elections.¶
- 23 January 2024: publication date of the EEAS second report on foreign information manipulation and interference threats.¶
- 3 June 2022: date of the Council decision on restrictive measures concerning Russia.¶
- 13 July 2023: date of Parliament's recommendations for reform of its transparency, integrity, accountability and anti-corruption rules.¶
Legal basis: Treaty on European Union, Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, notably Articles 7, 8, 11, 12, 39, 40, 47 and 52.¶