EPP Group asks Josep Borrell for explanation on COVID-19 disinformation report

“We are revolted by the reports revealing that the European External Action Service (EEAS) bowed under Chinese pressure and modified its findings about the Chinese disinformation campaign on COVID-19. I urge High Representative Josep Borrell to fully explain in detail and without any delay, what happened to the report”, said Sandra Kalniete MEP, Vice-Chairwoman of the EPP in charge of Foreign Affairs.

Her remarks follow media reports according to which, pressured by China, the EU softened its report on COVID-19 disinformation in EU.

“The great battle of disinformation has been going on for years already and has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Europe's unity will be decisive for the future existence of the EU. Both Russia and China have well-developed and all-encompassing propaganda strategies to weaken the EU as a whole, individual Member States internally and to discredit international organisations, such as NATO", said Kalniete.

"We are very aware of these disinformation campaigns and the EPP Group has repeatedly called upon the EU's External Action Service to gear up for it. It therefore would be totally unacceptable if the EEAS, charged with providing the EU public with full and unbiased information and to defend Europe in this disinformation campaign, proved to be ready to backtrack on its findings and fall victim itself to foreign propaganda”, Kalniete concluded.