The Special Committee on Foreign Interference adopt its proposals to fight against malicious foreign actors, particularly Russia and China, using information manipulation to interfere in democratic processes. It is expected that foreign interference and disinformation will continue with increasing intensity in the run-up to the European Parliament elections in 2024. Statement by Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), Rapporteur. This transcription is a result of an atutomatic process. Please check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

vote

KALNIETE, Sandra (EPP, LV)

fight against hate speech, populism, and fake news on social media (T)

Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the EU, including Disinformation II

Vote on Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation: extracts from the vote and statement by Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), Rapporteur

Title: Vote on Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation: extracts from the vote and statement by Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), Rapporteur (EbS) 

SOUNDBITE (French), Rapha&euml;l GLUCKSMANN (S&amp;D, FR), INGE 2 Special Committee Chair, This report presents a series of important recommendations to protect our democracies and ensure the sovereignty of European people.

Final vote (27 votes in favour, 1 against, and 1 abstained) and applause (3 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), Rapporteur, The vote is important because my report it puts the strategic way how to resolve and counter for interference into democratic processes. First in the European Union, but also to the Member States. Because in the current state of affairs, when we are having such a speedy technological development, including artificial intelligence, hostile countries, they have instruments to manipulate, to interfere, to change political discourse, etc.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), Rapporteur, And that's why, what is my concern personally, that the recommendations which were provided by my first report, they are not really implemented.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), Rapporteur, Under this information, there are two major bodies, which is one is money and another one is technologies. And exactly in the area of money, I would say, that the way how this information and other disruptive actions are financed.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV), Rapporteur, Hybrid information warfare and those who do that to us, that they are subject to the sanctions, that they do not go unpunished. Sanctions could be reputational and sanctions could be also financial, blocking their access, they can be personal and this is something where we still need to get to the, let's say, united approach to that.