Resolution on the EU’s strategic communication against external propaganda

The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee approved a resolution on 10 October 2016 regarding the European Union's strategic communication.

MEPs highlighted that propaganda pressure on the EU from Russia and Islamic terrorist organisations was growing, and called for it to be countered, not with more propaganda, but with positive messaging, awareness raising and education to increase the information literacy amongst EU citizens.

The non-legislative resolution was endorsed by the European Parliament's plenary session on 23 November 2016 by 304 votes to 179, with 208 abstentions.

To counteract anti-EU campaigns, MEPs suggested investing in awareness raising, education, online and local media, investigative journalism and information literacy, which would empower citizens to analyse media content critically. It was equally important to adapt communication to specific regions, including access to information in local languages, said the text.

The resolution also suggested deepening EU and NATO cooperation on strategic communication, reinforcing the EU’s 9-strong strategic communication task force and providing more support to boost media resilience in EU neighbourhood countries.

In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry urged the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media to analyse the European Parliament's resolution.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: War of words: how Europe is fighting back against Russian disinformation http://www.europeansources.info/showDoc?ID=1216353

ESO: Background information: EU strategic communications with a View to Counteracting Propaganda http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-strategic-communications-with-a-view-to-counteracting-propaganda/

EUObserver, 11.10.16: MEPs call for 'proper' EU counter-propaganda unit https://euobserver.com/foreign/135461

European Parliament: Press Release, 23.11.16: MEPs sound alarm on anti-EU propaganda from Russia and Islamist terrorist groups http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20161118IPR51718/

EU_ EEAS: Strategic Communications https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/100/strategic-communications_en

The Independent, 24.11.16: EU approves resolution to fight back against Russian 'propaganda warfare' http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/eu-approves-resolution-to-fight-back-against-russian-propaganda-warfare-a7436036.html

Sputnik International, 26.11.16: Wrong Target: EU Parliament Should Go After 'Economic Groups Controlling Media' https://sputniknews.com/europe/201611261047861230-eu-parliament-russian-media-resolution/

Sputnik International, 25.11.16: European Parliament Now Claims EU's Critics no Different From Al-Qaeda https://sputniknews.com/blogs/201611251047838570-eu-parliament-al-qaeda/

Deutsche Welle, 23.11.16: European Parliament urges action against Russian 'hostile propaganda' http://dw.com/p/2T8pE

Sputnik International, 25.11.16: Russia Urges OSCE to Analyze EU Anti-Propaganda Resolution https://sputniknews.com/europe/201611251047849068-russia-eu-resolution-media-osce/

EurActv, 25.11.16: MEPs draw map of pro- and anti-Russian countries in the EU http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/meps-draw-map-of-pro-and-anti-russian-countries-in-the-eu/

Blog: VoteWatch Europe, 25.11.16: EU votes to step up measures to counter Russia’s propaganda, but Southern Europeans do not agree http://www.votewatch.eu/blog/eu-votes-to-step-up-measures-to-counter-russias-propaganda-but-southern-europeans-do-not-agree/

Euro|Topics: Debates, December 2016: How dangerous is fake news? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/169876/how-dangerous-is-fake-news

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