2016/2030(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the establishment of the East StratCom Team within the European External Action Service (EEAS) with the aim of countering anti-EU propaganda and disinformation; insists upon the difference between ‘propaganda’ and criticism;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes that disinformation and propaganda are parts of hybrid warfare; highlights, therefore, the need to raise awareness and provide assertiveness through institutional/political communication, think tank/academia researches, social media campaigns, civil society initiatives, media literacy and other useful actions;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses that the strategy of anti- EU propaganda and disinformation by third countries may take various forms and involve, in particular, traditional media, social networks, school programmes and political parties, both within the European Union and outside it;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Stresses that while not all criticism of the European Union or its policies constitutes necessarily propaganda or disinformation, particularly when in the context of political expression, instances of manipulation or support linked to third countries and intended to fuel or exacerbate this criticism are likely to cause messages conveyed in this way to be viewed in a critical vein;

Amendment 15 #

Jana TOOM, Helga TRÜPEL, María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT, Hannu TAKKULA, Javier NART

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Stresses that while a stand has to be taken against anti-EU propaganda and disinformation by third countries, this should not cast into doubt the importance of maintaining constructive relations with third countries and making them strategic partners in tackling common challenges;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes that the Disinformation Review published by the East StratCom Task Force has to meet the standards provided in the IFJ Declaration of Principles on the Conduct of Journalists; emphasises that this Review shall be written in an appropriate manner, without using offensive language or value judgments; invites the East StratCom Task Force to revisit the criteria used for drafting of this Review;

Amendment 17 #

Jana TOOM, Helga TRÜPEL, María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT, Hannu TAKKULA, Javier NART

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Believes that an efficient strategy to counteract anti-EU propaganda could be the adoption of measures to provide a target audience with adequate and interesting information about EU activities, European values and other issues of public interest and underlines that modern technologies and social networks could be used for these purposes;

Amendment 18 #

Jana TOOM, Helga TRÜPEL, María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT, Hannu TAKKULA, Javier NART

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Underlines that Islamist terrorist organisations, especially ISIS and Al- Qaeda, are engaged in active information campaigns with the aim to undermine European values and interests; highlights in this regard the importance of a specific strategy to counter Islamist anti-EU propaganda and disinformation;

Amendment 19 #

Jana TOOM, Helga TRÜPEL, María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT, Hannu TAKKULA, Javier NART

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the need to strengthen independent media, especially within the EU ~~neighbourhood, inter alia~~ ; points out that according to Reporters Withrough support for journalists and the development of capacity-building programmes for media actors, fostering information-exchange partnerships and networks, such as content-sharing platforms, media-related research, training opportunities for journalists and placemt Borders’ 2016 World Press Freedom Index, press freedom has declined considerably in many countries in the EU, such as France, which is now ranked only 45th, or Croatia 63rd and Italy 77th; considers that, bearing in mind the European Union’s ambition to be a leader in defence of freedom across the globe, in order to be consistents with ~~EU-based media to facilitate exchanges of best~~ its claims it should first of all ensure it is above reproac~~tices~~h itself;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Recital B (new)

1b. whereas Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights guarantees freedom of expression but also stipulates that this freedom may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the need to strengthen ~~independent media, especially in the EU neighbourhood, inter alia through support for journalists and the development of capacity-building programmes for media actors, fostering~~the objectivity, impartiality and independence of the media within the European Union and promote these principles also in connection with the EU's external action, through support for journalists and the development of capacity-building programmes for media actors, fostering a consistent and truthful representation of the EU's external action internationally and of the economic and social situation and the ability of citizens to enjoy fundamental rights in the EU; notes in this regard the function of information-exchange partnerships and networks, such as content- sharing platforms, media-related research, training opportunities for journalists and placements with EU-based media to facilitate exchanges of best practices;

Amendment 21 #

Bogdan Andrzej ZDROJEWSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the need to provide alternatives for bias information by strengthening independent media~~, especially in the EU neighbourhoo~~ in the EU and beyond, inter alia through support for journalists and the development of capacity-building programmes for media actors, supporting credible outlets, fostering information-exchange partnerships and networks, such as content- sharing platforms, media-related research, training opportunities for journalists and placements with EU-based media to facilitate exchanges of best practices;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the need ~~to strengthen independent media, especially in the EU neighbourhood~~for multi- pronged activities in support of independent media that incorporate non- state actors, inter alia through support for journalists and the development of capacity-building programmes for media actors, fostering information-exchange partnerships and networks, such as content- sharing platforms, media-related research, training opportunities for journalists and placements with EU-based media to facilitate exchanges of best practices;

Amendment 23 #

Julie WARD, Petra KAMMEREVERT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the need to strengthen ~~independent media, especially in the EU~~media pluralism and independent media, in the European Union and its neighbourhood, inter alia through support for journalists and the development of capacity-building programmes for media actors, fostering information-exchange partnerships and networks, such as content- sharing platforms, media-related research, exchange and training opportunities for journalists, and placements with EU-based media to facilitate exchanges of best practices;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the need to strengthen independent media, especially in the EU neighbourhood, inter alia through support for journalists and the development of capacity-building programmes for media actors, fostering information-exchange partnerships and networks, such as content- sharing platforms, media-related research, training opportunities for journalists and placements with EU-based media ~~to facilitate exchanges of best practic~~and for EU journalists in neighbourhood countries to facilitate exchanges of best practices; highlights the important role of quality journalism education and training inside and outside Europe in order to produce quality journalistic analysis based on correctly selected sources; argues that promoting EU values of freedom of press and expression and media plurality includes supporting persecuted and imprisoned journalists and human rights defenders in third countries;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the need to strengthen the media environment and independent media, especially in the EU neighbourhood, inter alia through support for journalists and the development of capacity-building programmes for media actors, fostering information-exchange partnerships and networks, such as content- sharing platforms, media-related research, training opportunities for journalists and placements with EU-based media to facilitate exchanges of best practices; welcomes the launch of the Media Hub project targeted at the development of independent media in the European Neighbourhood; advocates stronger cooperation between EU institutions, the European Endowment for Democracy, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and Member States in order to avoid duplication and ensure synergy in similar initiatives;

Amendment 26 #

Julie WARD, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Silvia COSTA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Is dismayed at the major problems relating to the independence and freedom of the media in certain EU Member States, as reported by international organisations such as Reporters Without Borders; calls on the EU and the Member States to take appropriate measures to improve the existing situation in the media sector, with a view to ensuring also that EU external action in support of the freedom, impartiality and independence of the media is credible;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Emphasises that more funding is necessary to support freedom of media in ENP countries in the scope of EU democracy instruments; in this respect, calls on the Commission to ensure the full exploitation of existing instruments such as the European Instrument for Democracy and Human rights (EIDHR), the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the Eastern Partnership Media Freedom Watch and the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) towards protection of media freedom and pluralism;

Amendment 28 #

Julie WARD, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Expresses concern at the use of social media and online platforms for criminal hate speech and incitement to violence, and encourages Member States to adapt and update legislation to address ongoing developments, or fully implement and enforce existing legislation on hate speech, both offline and online; argues that a greater collaboration is needed with online platforms, leading internet and media companies in this respect;

Amendment 29 #

Jana TOOM, Helga TRÜPEL, María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT, Hannu TAKKULA, Javier NART

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls for Member States to provide and ensure the necessary framework for quality journalism and variety of information, in fighting media concentrations, which have a negative impact on media pluralism;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Recital C (new)

1c. whereas propaganda for war and any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law in accordance with Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that media education can provides knowledge and skills, and empowers citizens to exercise their right to freedom of expression, and to critically analyse media content ~~and to react to disinformation; highlights, therefore, the need to raise awareness, through media literacy actions at all levels, of attempts~~; notes however that care has to be taken that this media education is not based on subjective criteria so that pupils do not start to interpret news arbitrarily and can genuinely exercise their freedom of expression, including when speaking out ats dis~~information~~senting voices in their own countries;

Amendment 31 #

Julie WARD, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Silvia COSTA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that media education provides knowledge and skills, and empowers citizens to exercise their right to freedom of expression, to critically analyse media content and to react to disinformation; highlights, therefore, the need to raise awareness of attempts at disinformation, through media literacy actions at all levels, ~~of attempts at disinformation~~including through a European information campaign around media, journalistic and editorial ethics as well as through monitoring online content with the cooperation of online platforms;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Notes that propaganda is often a deliberate and an orchestrated form of manipulative information based on half- truths and deceptions in an effort to influence attitudes and behaviours of targeted audiences; stresses in this regards that an unbiased, reliable and objective communication and flow of information based on facts concerning developments in EU countries would prevent the dissemination of propaganda fuelled by third parties; emphasises that strengthening the media environment in EU countries and ensuring that journalists are able to exercise their professional duties without interference from political institutions and businesses is of crucial importance in counteracting propaganda;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Regrets that intentional dispersal of misinformation is also a phenomenon not unknown in European media therefore stresses the need to raise standards as the best method in preventing the dissemination of manipulative information by third parties;

Amendment 36 #

Julie WARD, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages long-term public and cultural diplomacy actions and initiatives, such as scholarships and exchange programmes for students and young professionals, including initiatives to support ~~intercultural dialogue, strengthen cultural links with the EU, and promote~~greater awareness of the cultural heritage of each Member State as well as of European civilisation’s common heritage;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ENotes that no soft power strategy can succeed without cultural diplomacy and promotion of intercultural dialogue between and inside countries, in the EU and beyond; therefore encourages long- term public and cultural diplomacy actions and initiatives, such as scholarships and exchange programmes for students and young professionals, including initiatives to support intercultural dialogue, strengthen cultural links with the EU, and promote common ~~heritage~~cultural links and heritage; and to provide a proper training for staff of EU delegations and EEAS to equip them with adequate intercultural skills;

Amendment 38 #

Julie WARD, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Is firmly convinced that, in order to promote the principles referred to in Article 21 TEU in a consistent manner, the European Union's external action, as regards the use of the media, should avoid any kind of propaganda and should strongly condemn any violation of human rights, any expression of inhuman or degrading treatment and any acts and decisions that result in the reduction or denial of social and economic rights and prevent citizens from living a free and dignified life;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Affirms that an efficient communication strategy must include local communities in discussions about EU actions, support for people-to-people contact and give proper consideration to cultural and social exchanges as key platforms to combat prejudices of local populations; recalls that, in this view, EU delegations must maintain direct contact with local grassroots stakeholders and representatives of civil society;

Amendment 4 #

Jana TOOM, Helga TRÜPEL, María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT, Hannu TAKKULA, Javier NART

Draft opinion
Recital D (new)

1d. whereas Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union provides that everyone has the right to freedom of expression and this right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Underlines that incitement of hatred, violence or war cannot ‘hide’ behind the freedom of expression. Encourages legal initiatives in order to be more accountable dealing with disinformation; Look forward to the concrete legislative actions for Audio- visual Media Services Directive revision;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Highlights the importance of communicating EU policies effectively, internally as well as externally, and of ensuring access to information in local languages; welcomes, in this context, the launch of the EEAS website in Russian; underlines that particular attention should be paid to new technologies – including digital broadcasting, mobile communications, online media and social networks – which facilitate theRecalls to mind that only 42.61 % of EU citizens and only 27.8 % of young people aged between 18 and 24 voted in the last European elections, which was the lowest turnout since 1979; stresses that, as the aforementioned figures show, the European Union is suffering from a democratic deficit as well as a crisis of legitimacy in the eyes of the Member States’ citizens; states that, with this in mind, more transparent dissemination of information about~~, and increased awareness~~ how the whole structure of, the E~~uropean values enshrined in the Treaties.~~U functions may be helpful, but that in so doing consideration has to be shown for the diversity of opinions held by citizens in the Member States so that they feel they are respected;

Amendment 42 #

Julie WARD, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Highlights the importance of a coherent communication ong EU policies ~~effectively~~, internally as well as externally, and of ensuring access to information in local languages; welcomes, in this context, the launch of the EEAS website in Russian;, underlines thate need to provide the same facilities for Arab and Turkish languages; calls for particular attention ~~should~~to be paid to new technologies – including digital broadcasting, mobile communications, online media and social networks – which facilitate the dissemination of information about, and increased awareness of, the European values enshrined in the Treaties.

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Highlights the importance of communicating EU policies effectively, internally as well as externally, and ~~of ensur~~providing tailored communications to specific regions, including access to information in local languages; welcomes, in this context, the launch of the EEAS website in Russian as a first step in the right direction and encourages the translation of EEAS website into more languages; underlines that particular attention should be paid to new technologies – including digital broadcasting, mobile communications, online media and social networks – which facilitate the dissemination of information about, and increased awareness of, the European values enshrined in the Treaties.; recalls that such communications must contain concrete best practices and highlight EU’s impact in third countries, including EU humanitarian assistance as well as the opportunities and benefits that closer association and cooperation with the EU brings to the citizens in third countries, in particular for young people, such as visa-free travel or capacity- building, mobility and exchange programmes when applicable;

Amendment 44 #

Jana TOOM, Helga TRÜPEL, María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT, Hannu TAKKULA, Javier NART

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Highlights the importance of communicating EU policies effectively, internally as well as externally, and of ensuring access to information in local languages; welcomes, in this context, the launch of the EEAS website in Russian and believes that the launch of this website in Arabic and Turkish is highly desirable; underlines that particular attention should be paid to new technologies – including digital broadcasting, mobile communications, online media and social networks – which facilitate the dissemination of information about, and increased awareness of, the European values enshrined in the Treaties.

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Highlights the importance of communicating EU policies effectively, internally as well as externally, and of ensuring access to information in official local languages; welcomes, in this context, the launch of the EEAS website in Russian; underlines that particular attention should be paid to new technologies – including digital broadcasting, mobile communications, online media and social networks – which facilitate the dissemination of information about, and increased awareness of, the European values enshrined in the Treaties.; stresses that the new technologies facilitate too the large scale dissemination of deliberately biased or wrong information about the EU and its policies, and that a strategy and resources to counter these messages on the Internet need to be implemented;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. States that the European Union needs to be consistent in what it says, both within the EU and outside it, and in particular concerning defence of the principles of freedom of expression and press freedom; asks the Commission, in this respect, to clarify its position concerning the recent measures taken by the Turkish authorities to censor the press and dissident voices;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Is concerned in fact about the various retaliation measures taken against journalists by Turkey such as the refusal to allow a reporter from the German TV channel ARD to enter the country; the blocking of a great many foreign press websites; or even the pressure exerted by Ankara on the European Commission to withdraw its grant to the Dresden orchestra for its concert commemorating the Armenian genocide;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Expresses concern that EU-related news is often overly technical rendering information incomprehensible and unappealing to audiences; stresses the necessity to concentrate communication materials on the substance and content of political meetings, initiatives and projects, and their subsequent regional impact through comprehensible, innovative and creative dissemination methods and calls to review and update accordingly relevant EU websites; highlights the need to ensure that new ENP portal - currently being developed in the framework of OPEN Neighbourhood Programme - accumulates not only content addressed at expert communities, but should consist also of a section customised for larger audiences; is of the opinion that the portal should contain a section on the Eastern Partnership bringing together information on initiatives currently fragmented between numerous websites;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. W~~elcomes~~onders about the establishment of the East StratCom Team within the European External Action Service (EEAS) with the aim of countering anti-EU propaganda and disinformation; recalls that pluralism and freedom of expression are enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU); is concerned in this regard about the subjective dimension in the definition of ‘anti-EU propaganda’, which could, without clearly defined criteria, lead to certain opinions being condemned arbitrarily and thus endanger democracy and freedom of expression;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Notes that instead of developing and pushing for positive messages regarding EU policies towards the Eastern neighbourhood, the EU strategic communication should first and foremost focus on combatting propaganda and disinformation as well as objective information about the state of affairs in the European Union;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Is of the opinion that the forthcoming AVMSD revision should take into account challenges linked with combating the dissemination of propaganda by third parties; highlights the importance of addressing such problems as forum-shopping - used to evade rules which provide a minimum of control over content, a minimum level of consumer protection - and problems related to narrow scopes of national security criteria and insufficient level of cooperation between European national media regulators;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Stresses the need to extend the scope of AVMSD to audiovisual media services providers (linear and non-linear) with established headquarters outside of the EU who direct their services to customers in the EU, which could be achieved by requiring the registration of non-EU suppliers or by designating a representative in a Member State (e.g. main country of destination);

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)

5e. Points out to the potential of popular culture and entertainment- education (EE) as an articulator of shared human values and a communicator of European policies;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Welcom~~Notes the establishment of the East StratCom Team within the European External Action Service (EEAS) with the aim of countering anti-EU propaganda and disinformation;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the establishment of the East StratCom Team within the European External Action Service (EEAS) with the aim of communicating EU narratives and countering anti-EU propaganda and disinformation; as a result invites further stepping up strategic communication; also highlights the importance of ensuring sufficient finances as well as personnel of the Team;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the adoption of the Action Plan on Strategic Communication and the establishment of the East StratCom Team within the European External Action Service (EEAS) with the aim of countering anti-EU propaganda and disinformation while strengthening the overall media environment in the European Neighbourhood and in the EU Member States;

Amendment 9 #

Tomáš ZDECHOVSKÝ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the establishment of the East StratCom Team within the European External Action Service (EEAS) with the aim of countering anti-EU propaganda and disinformation, which are damaging to the EU;

source: 582.242

2016/05/30 AFET 358 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on prevention of radicalisation and recruitment of European citizens by terrorist organisations (A8-0316/2015),

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)

– having regard to the motion for a European Parliament resolution of 13 May 2015 on the state of EU - Russia relations,

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)

Dc. whereas any measure taken to prevent or remove messages communicated through the Internet or other forms of technology constitutes an interference with the right to freedom of expression and must be justified, checked, balanced and overseen;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)

Dd. whereas programmes and initiatives that restrict freedom of expression must be based on evidence of their effectiveness and a legal framework to support their necessity and proportionality to achieve legitimate objectives;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D e (new)

De. whereas budgets for investigative journalism, local media as well as foreign language media outlets have been reduced in Europe;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1

~~EU strategic communication to counteract propaganda against it by third parties~~deleted

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that strategic propaganda against the EU comes in many different forms and uses various tools, often tailored to match Member States’ profiles, with the goal of provoking doubt, paralysing the decision-making process, discrediting the EU institutions in the eyes and minds of its citizens and eroding western values and transatlantic tiesStresses that, in view of its record and its subservience to foreign powers and special interest groups, the EU has discredited itself in the eyes of the public, without the need for any destabilisation from outside;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that strategic propaganda against the EU comes in many different forms and uses various tools, often tailored to match the Member States’ profiles~~, with the goal of provoking doubt, paralysing the decision-making process, discrediting the EU institutions in the eyes and minds of its citizens and eroding western values and transatlantic ties~~;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that strategic propaganda against the EU comes in many different forms and uses various tools, often tailored to match Member States’ profiles, with the goal of ~~provok~~sowing doubt~~, paralysing the~~ and uncertainty, hampering democratic and constitutional decision-making processes, discrediting the EU institutions ~~in the eyes and minds of its citizens~~ and eroding western values and transatlantic ties;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that strategic propaganda against the EU comes in many different forms and uses various tools, often tailored to match Member States’ profiles, with the goal of provoking doubt, paralysing the decision-making process, discrediting the EU institutions and transatlantic partnerships such as the TTIP and NATO in the eyes and minds of its citizens and eroding western values ~~and transatlantic ties~~;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)

– having regard to the Commission communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the European Agenda on Security (COM(2015)0185),

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that strategic propaganda ~~against the EU~~ comes in many different forms and uses various tools, often tailored to match EU Member States’ profiles, with the goal of distorting truths, provoking doubt, paralysing the decision-making process, discrediting the EU institutions ~~in the eyes and minds of its citizens~~ and eroding ~~western~~democratic values ~~and~~or transatlantic ties;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that ~~strategic~~hostile propaganda against the EU comes in many different forms and uses various tools, often tailored to match Member States’ profiles, with the goal of provoking doubt, paralysing the decision-making process, discrediting the EU institutions in the eyes and minds of its citizens and eroding western values and transatlantic ties;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that strategic propaganda against the EU comes in many different forms and uses various tools, often tailored to match Member States’' profiles, with the goal of provoking doubt, paralysing the decision-making process, discrediting the EU institutions in the eyes and minds of its citizens and eroding ~~wester~~European values and transatlantic ties;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that strategic propaganda against the EU comes in many different forms and uses various tools, often tailored to match Member States’ profiles, with the goal of provoking doubt, paralysing the decision-making process, discrediting the EU institutions in the eyes and minds of its citizens and eroding western values and transatlantic ties; recalls that one of the most important tools used is incitement of fear and uncertainty in EU citizens, as well as presenting Russia or Daesh as much stronger and more successful than they are in reality;

Amendment 116 #

Traian UNGUREANU, Cristian Dan PREDA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that strategic propaganda against the EU comes in many different forms and uses various tools, often tailored to match Member States’' profiles, with the goal of provoking doubt, ~~paralysing the decision-making proces~~dividing Member Countries, creating systematic uncertainty, paralysing the decision-making process, luring and supporting particular economic sectorial interests, discrediting the EU institutions and the EU media in the eyes and minds of its citizens and eroding western values and transatlantic ties;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that strategic propaganda against the EU comes in many different forms and uses various tools, often tailored to match Member States’ profiles, with the goal of provoking doubt, paralysing the decision-making process, impacting the behaviour of the targeted audience, discrediting the EU institutions in the eyes and minds of its citizens and of citizens of neighbouring countries and eroding western values and transatlantic ties;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that strategic propaganda against the EU comes in many different forms and uses various tools, often tailored to match Member States’' profiles, with the goal of provoking doubt, paralysing the decision-making process, discrediting the EU institutions in the eyes and minds of its citizens ~~and eroding western values and~~, undermining the European political narrative based on democratic values, human rights and rule of law; and eroding transatlantic ties;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)

– having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 9 July 2015 on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy,

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Observes that propaganda of this kind also seeks to engineer a strategic split between the European Union and its North American partners and thereby to weaken a transatlantic tie which plays a recognised role in the European security architecture (Article 17 of the TEU, Article 42 of the Lisbon Treaty);

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Recognizes the essential role that the media and the Internet and other digital technologies play in keeping people informed, and stresses that limiting the space for freedom of expression advances the goals of those promoting, threatening and using terrorism and violence;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

~~2. Calls on the EU institutions to recognise that information warfare is not only an external EU issue but also an internal one;~~deleted

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Calls on the EU institutions to recognise that information warfare is not only~~Points out that the EU was supposed to ensure peace and that searching for imaginary internal and external ~~EU issue but also an internal one~~enemies is the hallmark of a totalitarian system and shows the EU for what it truly is;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the EU institutions to ~~recognise that information warfare~~address the current lack of clarity and agreement on what is to be considered propaganda and disinformation and to develop in cooperation with media representatives and experts from the EU member states a shared set of definitions; calls, furthermore, to monitor regularly the degree and influence of propaganda and disinformation in different parts of Europe and identify the threats and the instruments used in the ongoing propaganda war and recognise that the manipulation and misuse of information and the circulation of false information by third parties is not only an external EU issue but also an internal one;

Amendment 126 #

Louis MICHEL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the EU institutions to recognise that information warfare is not only an external EU issue but also an internal one; stresses that, in the case of any form of disinformation and strategic communication by third parties designed to destabilise institutions or populations, the scope and impact of these attempts at disinformation and destabilisation must be thoroughly investigated and analysed in order to be able to adopt appropriate, unique measures;

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Calls on~~Reminds the EU institutions ~~to recognise~~ that information warfare is not only an external EU issue but also an internal one; calls on sensitizing the staff of the EU institutions to better recognize and counter misinformation and propaganda;

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the EU institutions to recognise that information warfare is not only an external EU issue but also an internal one; is concerned with the limited awareness amongst some of its member states that they are audiences and arenas of propaganda and disinformation;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the EU institutions to recognise that information warfare is not only an external EU issue but also an internal one and to endow themselves with the resources they need to fight back properly;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)

– having regard to the 9 February 2015 Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on counter-terrorism,

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Calls on the EU institutions to recognise~~Points out that information warfare is not only an external EU issue but also an internal one, and voices its concern at the number of hostile propaganda multipliers existing within the Union;

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the EU institutions to recognise that the response to information warfare and information aggression is not only an external EU issue but also an internal security one;

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the EU institutions to recognise that ~~information warfare~~strategic communication is not only an external EU issue but also an internal one;

Amendment 133 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Is convinced that the best way to contrast the ongoing propaganda is to stick and uphold the basic principles of press freedom and right to information and in particular to support the independence of media in line with the journalist code of ethics as well as the transparency of the sources of information thus avoiding to fall into the trap of a counterproductive symmetrical counterpropaganda;

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Underlines that media freedom is based on a free society; stresses, then, that any counter-propaganda institution created by the legislative or executive power is against the principle of media freedom, as its objective is a form of propaganda;

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Warns also that authoritarian states, by conducting disinformation campaigns, tries to affect public opinion and the democratic decision-making process, aiming to undermine public trust, openness and democracy;

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Reminds that information campaigns are not only conducted through disinformation, but also by overloading the media space with nonsense and contradictory truths;

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes the multi-layered character of current EU strategic communications at various levels, including NATO, the EU, the Member States, and NGOs as well as civic organisations; calls for the best possible coordination and exchange of information between the different actors involvedCalls for the best possible coordination and information exchange between the various parties that have voiced concern at these propaganda efforts and wish to draw up strategies for countering disinformation (European Union, Member States, NGOs, civic organisations, NATO);

Amendment 139 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes the multi-layered character of current EU strategic communications at various levels, including NATO, the EU, the Member States, and NGOs as well as civic organisations; ~~calls for the best possible coordination and exchange of information between the different actors involved~~points out that this unanimously aggressive stance vis-à-vis a major ally and any Member States that are wary of such warmongering is a threat to both regional and world stability;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)

– having regard to A/HRC/31/65, the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism,

Amendment 140 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes the multi-layered character of current EU strategic communications at various levels, including NATO, the EU, the Member States, and NGOs as well as civic organisations; applauds such initiatives as @EUvsDisinfo by EEAS East StratCom Task Force, Information Warfare Initiative by CEPA, Baltic Centre for Media Excellence and other implemented recommendations of the European Endowment for Democracy feasibility study; calls for the best possible coordination and exchange of information between the different actors involved;

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes the multi-layered character of current EU strategic communications at various levels, including ~~NATO,~~ the EU institutions, the Member States, ~~and~~ NGOs a~~s well as~~nd civic organisations and various NATO bodies; calls for the best possible coordination and exchange of information between the different actors involved;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes the multi-layered character of current EU strategic communications at various levels, including NATO and the UN, the EU, the Member States, and NGOs as well as civic organisations; calls for the best possible coordination and exchange of information between the different actors involved;

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

Amendment 145 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes the multi-layered character of current EU strategic communications at various levels, including NATO, the EU institutions, the Member States, and NGOs as well as civic organisations; calls for the best possible coordination and exchange of information between the different actors involved;

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes the multi-layered character of current EU strategic communications at various levels, ~~including NATO,~~ the EU, the Member States, and NGOs as well as civic organisations; calls for the best possible coordination and exchange of information between the different actors involved;

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Notes that propaganda is a deliberate and planned form of manipulative information mixing (half-) truths and falsehood in an effort to influence attitudes and behaviour of targeted audiences; stresses in this regards that unbiased and reliable, based on facts, and separated from commentaries and evaluation information of developments in the EU countries would prevent to use this information as a fuel for propaganda by third parties; emphasizes that strengthening media environment in the EU countries and ensuring journalists to exercise their professional duties not being hindered by interference on behalf of political institutions and businesses is of pivotal importance in effective counteracting of propaganda;

Amendment 149 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Recognises that the EU must consider its strategic communication efforts as a priority, which should involve relevant resources; reiterates that the EU is a successful model of integration which continues, amid crisis, to attract countries wanting to replicate and integrate with it; underlines therefore the EU needs to put out its positive message about its successes, values and principles with determination and courage, and the EU needs to be offensive in its narrative, not defensive;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 c (new)

– having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council on delivering on the European Agenda on Security to fight against terrorism and pave the way towards an effective and genuine Security Union (COM(2016)0230),

Amendment 150 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Encourages NATO to adopt at its Summit in Warsaw 2016 policy on coherent, innovative, responsive and effective Strategic Communication including appropriately adapted and culturally attuned strategic narratives aligning words and actions to counter opposing narratives basing on credibility to fight propaganda;

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Underlines the need to have access to the proved false information sent by Russia for manipulation and disinformation;

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Regrets that misinformation is also a phenomena which is not unknown in the European media and stresses the need to improve the European media standards, as the best method to prevent influence of the manipulative information by the third parties;

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

~~Recognising the Russian information warfare strategy~~deleted

Amendment 154 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

~~Recognising the Russian information warfare strategy~~deleted

Amendment 155 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

~~Recognis~~Avoiding an additional spiral ing the ~~Russian information warfare strategy~~relationship with Russia in the area of information

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

Recognising the Russian disinformation ~~warfare strategy~~and propaganda warfare

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

Recognising the ~~Russian~~Kremlin's information warfare strategy

Amendment 158 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

~~Recogni~~Exposing the Russian information warfare strategy

Amendment 159 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -4 a (new)

-4a. Notes with regret that Russia uses contacts and meetings with EU counterparts rather for propaganda purposes and to weaken publicly EU's joint position than for establishing a real dialogue;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 d (new)

– having regard to the EU Action Plan on Strategic Communication. Ref. Ares(2015)2608242 - 22/06/2015,

Amendment 160 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 161 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 163 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 165 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Recognises that Russia has been aggressively employing a wide range of tools~~ Calls for a comparative analysis to be drawn up of Russia's and the United States' influence in the Member States and the Europeand instruments, such as special foundations (Russkiy Mir,) multilingual TV stations (Russia Today, RIA Novosti), news agencies (Sputnik), social and religious groups (including the Orthodox church), social media and internet trolls to challenge Western values, divide Europitutions, to serve as a basis for discussions; calls for a committee of inquiry made up of journalists, academics, researchers and whistle blowers to be set up to determine exactly who has influence over whom; draws attention in this connection to the remarkable book Circus Politicus by Christophe Deloire, gathe~~r domestic support and create the perception of failing states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood~~ current Director- General of Reporters Without Borders, which sheds light on the nexus of influence that extends right to the heart of the Commission;

Amendment 166 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises that Russia has been aggressively employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special foundations (Russkiy Mir,) multilingual TV stations (Russia Today, RIA Novosti), news agencies (Sputnik), social and religious groups (including the Orthodox church), social media and internet trolls to challenge Western values, divide Europe, gather domestic support and create the perception of failing states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhoodis a key partner for the EU and a key global actor, both vis-à-vis foreign security and common fight against Da'esh and for the promotion of universal values, defended already in the past in its heroic fight against Nazism;

Amendment 167 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises that Russia has been aggressively employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special national foundations (Russkiy Mir,~~) multilingual TV stations (Russia Today, RIA Novosti), news agencies (Sputnik),~~ Rosssotrudnichestvo, Tėvynainių teisių užsienyje gynimo fondas, Goršakovo viešosios diplomatijos fondas), about whose activities no information is made public, multilingual TV stations that are directly controlled by the state through state-owned companies or companies controlled by oligarchs loyal to the current regime (for instance, Russia Today, NTV, Pirmasis kanalis, etc.), pseudo-news agencies (for instance, RIA Novosti, Sputnik), cross-border social and religious groups and structures (including the Orthodox cChurch of the Moscow Patriarchate), social media and internet trolls to challenge Western values, divide Europe, gather domestic support and create the perception of failing states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood;

Amendment 168 #

Traian UNGUREANU, Cristian Dan PREDA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises that the Russia ~~has been aggressively~~n Government is employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special foundations (Russkiy Mir,) multilingual TV stations (Russia Today, RIA Novosti), news agencies (Sputnik), social and religious groups (including the Orthodox church), social media and internet trolls to ~~challenge Western values, divide Europe, gather domestic support and create the perception of failing states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood~~protect its interests and justify its foreign policy;

Amendment 169 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises that Russia has been ~~aggressively~~ employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special foundations (Russkiy Mir,) multilingual TV stations (Russia Today, RIA Novosti), news agencies (Sputnik), social ~~and religious groups (including the Orthodox church)~~groups, social media and internet trolls to challenge Western values, divide Europe, gather domestic support and create the perception of failing states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood; stresses that Russia invests relevant financial resources in its disinformation strategy and propaganda instruments engaged either directly by state or through Kremlin controlled companies and organisations;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 e (new)

– having regard to the European Endowment for Democracy feasibility study on Russian-Language Media Initiatives in the Eastern Partnership and Beyond entitled "Bringing Plurality and Balance to the Russian Language Media Space",

Amendment 170 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises that Russia has been aggressively employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special foundations (Russkiy Mir,) multilingual TV stations (Russia Today, RIA Novosti), news agencies (Sputnik), social and religious groups (including the Orthodox church), social media and internet trolls to challenge Western values, divide Europe, gather domestic support and create the perception of failing states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood; points out the omnipresence of Russian media outlets to impose Russian point of views on world affairs;

Amendment 171 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises that Russia has been aggressively employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special foundations (Russkiy Mir,) multilingual TV stations (Russia Today, RIA Novosti), news agencies (Sputnik), social and religious groups (including the ~~Orthodox church~~Moscow Patriarchate (as regime wants to present themselves as the only defender of traditional Christian values), social media and internet trolls to challenge Western values, divide Europe, gather domestic support and create the perception of failing states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood;

Amendment 172 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises that Russia has been aggressively employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special foundations (Russkiy Mir,) multilingual TV stations (Russia Today, RIA Novosti), news agencies (Sputnik), social and religious groups (including the Orthodox church), social media and internet trolls to, as well as funding parties and charities with the intent of undermining political cohesion, challenge Western values, divide Europe, gather domestic support and create the perception of failing states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood;

Amendment 173 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises that Russia has been aggressively employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special foundations (Russkiy Mir,) multilingual TV stations (Russia Today, RIA Novosti), news agencies (Sputnik), social and religious groups (including the Orthodox church), social media and internet trolls to challenge Western values, divide Europe, gather domestic support and create the perception ~~of failing stat~~in countries in the EU’'s eastern neighbourhood that state structures in the EU are failing, on the one hand, and of expansionist moves on the part of the EU, on the other;

Amendment 174 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises that Russia has been aggressively employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special foundations (Russkiy Mir,) multilingual TV stations (Russia Today, RIA Novosti), news agencies (Sputnik), social and religious groups (including the Orthodox church), social media and internet trolls to ~~challenge Western~~push narratives advancing its political objectives by challenging universal values, divideing Europe, gathering domestic support and createing the perception of fail~~ing~~ed states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood;

Amendment 175 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Recognises~~Condemns the fact that Russia has been aggressively employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special foundations (Russkiy Mir,) multilingual TV stations (Russia Today, RIA Novosti), news agencies (Sputnik), social and religious groups (including ~~the~~sections of the Russian Orthodox church), social media and internet trolls to ~~challenge~~discredit Western values as a political model which has had its day, divide Europe, gather domestic support and create the perception of failing states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood;

Amendment 176 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises that Russia has been aggressively employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special foundations (Russkiy Mir,), special authorities (Rossotrudnichestvo), multilingual TV stations (R~~ussia Today~~T, RIA Novosti), news agencies (Sputnik), social and religious groups (including the Russian Orthodox church), social media and internet trolls to challenge Western values, divide Europe, gather domestic support and create the perception of failing states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood;

Amendment 177 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises that Russia has been aggressively employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special foundations (Russkiy Mir,) multilingual TV stations (Russia Today, RIA Novosti), news agencies (Sputnik), social and religious groups ~~(including the Orthodox church)~~, social media and internet trolls to challenge ~~Western~~democratic values, divide Europe, gather domestic support for the radical parties and against the EU agenda, and create the perception of failing states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood;

Amendment 178 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises that Russia has been aggressively employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special foundations (e.g. Russkiy Mir,) multilingual TV stations (e.g. Russia Today, RIA Novosti), news agencies (e.g. Sputnik), social and religious groups (~~including~~e.g. the Orthodox church), social media and internet trolls to challenge Western values, divide Europe, gather domestic support and create the perception of failing states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood;

Amendment 179 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises that Russia has been aggressively employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special foundations (Russkiy Mir,) multilingual TV stations (Russia Today~~, RIA Novosti~~), news agencies and multimedia services (Sputnik), social and religious groups (including the Orthodox church), social media and internet trolls to challenge Western values, divide Europe, gather domestic support and create the perception of failing states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 f (new)

– having regard to the 60 anniversary NATO Strasbourg/Kehl Summit declaration, 4 April 2009,

Amendment 180 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises that Russia has been aggressively employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special foundations and think tanks (Russkiy Mir,) multilingual TV stations (Russia Today, RIA Novosti), news agencies (Sputnik), social and religious groups (including the Orthodox church), social media and internet trolls to challenge Western values, divide Europe, gather domestic support and create the perception of failing states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood;

Amendment 181 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 182 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 183 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 184 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses that Russia is a key partner for the EU and key global actor, both vis-à-vis foreign security and common fight against Da'esh and for the promotion of universal values, defended already in the past in its common heroic fight against Nazism; notices that today in Russia's media coverage of international developments a growing one-sided interpretation of the Russian Foreign and Security policy is taking place;

Amendment 185 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Is concerned by the EU race for Free Trade Agreements in East Neighbourhood and beyond promoting thus an escalation of tensions with Russia and its Eurasian Economic Union; further believes that the eruption of new and current tensions could be avoided by the lift of EU sanctions and a renewed peaceful cooperation, also to the benefit of the energy resourceful countries;

Amendment 186 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls that security and intelligence services concludes that Russia has the capacity and intention of conducting operations aimed at destabilizing other countries; points out that this often takes the form of support to political extremists and large scale disinformation and mass media campaigns; furthermore notices that such media companies are present and active in the EU;

Amendment 187 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Points out that Kremlin's information strategy is complementary to its policy of stepping-up bilateral relations, economic cooperation and joint projects with individual EU Members Countries in order to weaken EU coherence and undermine EU policies;

Amendment 188 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Is deeply concerned at the general sharp rise in aggressive rhetoric on both sides, the RF and the EU and it's Member states in politics, society, the media and social networks, and at attempts by each side to demonise the other; notes that these trends are increasingly taking on the nature of campaigns or reflect a fundamentally changed understanding of their role by journalists, who instead of describing politics are making it themselves; stresses that, as a result, a growing proportion of society is losing confidence in public service media and quality journalism and that differing evaluations of events arising from political convictions are increasingly being discredited; reiterates its support as a matter of principle for the independence of the media and for diversity of opinion, and opposes any efforts to escalate still further the existing conflict with Russia by devising and implementing a policy of 'active counter-propaganda' and providing EU funding for a Russian language broadcaster;

Amendment 189 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Argues that Russian strategic communication is part of a larger subversive campaign to weaken the EU cooperation and the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of the union and its Member States; urges Member States' governments to be vigilant towards Russian information operations on European soil, increase capacity sharing and counterintelligence efforts aimed at countering such operations;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 g (new)

– having regard to NATO Wales Summit Declaration, 5 September 2014,

Amendment 190 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Expresses its strong criticism of Russian efforts to disrupt the EU integration process and deplores, in this respect, Russian backing of anti-EU forces in the EU with regard, in particular, to extreme-right parties, populist forces and movements that deny the basic values of liberal democracies;

Amendment 191 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Is concerned by the EU ambitions of concluding Association Agreements including Free Trade Agreements in East Neighbourhood and not to develop a parallel process of constructive treaty based relations with the RF thus contributing to an escalation of tensions with Russia and its Eurasian Economic Union; further believes that the eruption of new and current tensions could be avoided by the lift of EU sanctions and a renewed peaceful cooperation, also to the benefit energy resourceful countries;

Amendment 192 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Expresses its concern, in particular, about the Kremlin's strategy in the Western Balkans aiming openly at destabilising the internal situation, spoiling the accession process and questioning the European perspective of EU potential and candidate countries;

Amendment 193 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 194 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 195 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 196 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 197 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 198 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 199 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is seriously concerned by the ~~rapidly growing Russian activity in Europe seeking to increase Russian influence~~climate of impending war and the~~gemony; st~~ resse~~s that a large part of Russian strategic communication is aimed at describ~~ntment-driven policy that certaing countries in ~~central and~~ eastern Europe a~~s belonging to its traditional sphere of influence, thereby undermining their sovereignty; notes that falsifying history is one of its main strategies~~re determined to foster under the cloak of the EU institutions; stresses that this policy is seriously damaging to other States and is preventing eastern and western Europe from pulling together as they ought to;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)

– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 19 and 20 March 2015,

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 g (new)

– having regard to European Parliament resolution of 11 December 2012 on a Digital Freedom Strategy in EU Foreign Policy (2012/2094(INI)),

Amendment 200 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is seriously concerned by the rapid~~ly grow~~ expansion ing Russian activityies in Europe ~~seeking to~~, which could lead to an increase in Russian influence and hegemony; stresses that a large part of Russian strategic communication is aimed at describing countries in central and eastern Europe as belonging to its traditional sphere of influence, thereby undermining their sovereignty; ~~notes that falsifying history is one of its main strategies;~~

Amendment 201 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is seriously concerned by the ~~rapidly growing Russian activity in Europe seeking to increase Russian influence and hegemony~~se trends that are rapidly growing in Europe; stresses that a large part of Russian strategic communication is aimed at describing countries in central and eastern Europe as belonging to its traditional sphere of influence~~, thereby undermining their sovereignty~~; notes that falsifying history iseems to be one of its main strategies;

Amendment 202 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is seriously concerned by the rapidly growing Russian's activity in Europe seeking to increase Russian's influence and hegemony; stresses that a large part of ~~Russian strategic communication~~Kremlin's hostile propaganda is aimed at describing countries in central and eastern Europe as belonging to it"Russia's traditional sphere of influence", thereby undermining their sovereignty; notes that falsifying history is one of its main strategies;

Amendment 203 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is seriously concerned by the rapidly growing Russian activity in Europe seeking to increase Russian influence and hegemony; stresses that a large part of Russian strategic communication is aimed at describing countries in central and eastern Europe as belonging to its traditional sphere of influence, thereby undermining their sovereignty; notes that falsifying history is one of its main strategies; in this respect notes the need to raise awareness of the crimes of communist regimes through public campaigns, educational systems and to support research and documentation activities, especially in the former members of the Soviet bloc to counter the Kremlin narrative;

Amendment 204 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is seriously concerned by the rapidly growing Russian activity in Europe seeking to increase Russian influence and hegemony; stresses that a large part of Russian strategic communication is aimed at describing countries in central and eastern Europe as belonging to its traditional sphere of influence, thereby undermining their sovereignty; notes that ~~falsifying h~~one of its main strategies is to~~ry is one of its main strategie~~ circulate and impose an alternative narrative often based on a manipulated interpretation of historical events aimed at justifying its external actions and geopolitical interests;

Amendment 205 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is ~~seriously~~ concerned by the rapidly growing Russian activity in Europe seeking to maintain or increase Russian influence ~~and hegemony~~; stresses that a large part of Russian strategic communication is aimed at describing countries in central and eastern Europe as belonging to its traditional sphere of influence, thereby undermining their sovereignty; notes that falsifying history is one of its main strategies;

Amendment 206 #

Traian UNGUREANU, Cristian Dan PREDA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is seriously concerned by the rapidly growing Russian activity in Europe seeking to increase Russian influence and hegemony and to weaken and split the EU; stresses that a large part of Russian strategic communication is aimed at describing countries in central and eastern Europe as belonging to its traditional sphere of influence, thereby trying to undermin~~ing~~e their sovereignty; notes that falsifying history is one of its main strategies; stresses the need for close cooperation with NATO to counter Russian propaganda;

Amendment 207 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is seriously concerned by Russia's disinformation campaigns as well as the rapidly growing Russian activity in Europe seeking to increase Russian influence and hegemony; stresses that a large part of Russian strategic communication is aimed at describing countries in central and eastern Europe as belonging to its traditional sphere of influence, thereby undermining their sovereignty; notes that falsifying history is one of its main strategies;

Amendment 208 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is seriously concerned by the rapidly growing Russian activity in Europe seeking to increase Russian influence ~~and hegemony~~; stresses that a large part of Russian strategic communication is aimed at describing countries in central and eastern Europe as belonging to its traditional sphere of influence~~, thereby undermining their sovereignty~~; notes that falsifying history is one of its main strategies;

Amendment 209 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is seriously concerned by the rapidly growing Russian activity in Europe seeking to increase Russian influence and hegemony; stresses that a large part of Russian ~~strategic communication~~disinformation and propaganda activities is aimed at describing countries in central and eastern Europe as belonging to its traditional sphere of influence, thereby undermining their sovereignty; notes that falsifying history is one of its main strategies;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 h (new)

– having regard to General Comment 34 by the UN Human Rights Committee (CCPR/C/GC/34),

Amendment 210 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is seriously concerned by the rapidly growing ~~Russian~~Kremlin-inspired activity in Europe seeking to increase Russian influence and hegemony; stresses that a large part of Russian strategic communication is aimed at describing countries in central and eastern Europe as belonging to its traditional sphere of influence, thereby undermining their sovereignty; notes that falsifying history is one of its main strategies;

Amendment 211 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is seriously concerned by the rapidly growing Russian information activity in Europe seeking to increase Russian influence and hegemony; stresses that a large part of Russian strategic communication is aimed at describing countries in central and eastern Europe as belonging to its traditional sphere of influence, thereby undermining their sovereignty; notes that falsifying history is one of its main strategies;

Amendment 212 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

Amendment 213 #

Traian UNGUREANU, Bogdan Andrzej ZDROJEWSKI, Cristian Dan PREDA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is seriously concerned by the rapidly growing Russian activity in Europe seeking to increase Russian influence and hegemony; stresses that a large part of Russian strategic ~~communication~~propaganda is aimed at describing countries in central and eastern Europe as belonging to its traditional sphere of influence, thereby undermining their sovereignty; notes that falsifying history is one of its main strategies;

Amendment 214 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes that the EU is strengthening relations with its Eastern partners and other neighbours, and also keeps the lines of communication with Russia open; stresses that the EU supports Russian civil society and invests in people-to-people contacts; recognises that the biggest obstacle to Russian disinformation campaigns would be the existence of independent and free media in Russia itself; considers that achieving this should be the goal of the EU;

Amendment 215 #

Traian UNGUREANU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Bogdan Andrzej ZDROJEWSKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Is seriously concerned by the rapidly eroding democracy in the EU; stresses that a large part of EU Strategic communication is aimed at describing foreign countries and Member States with biased Human Rights concerns, double- standards; considers democracy and popular sovereignty the best answer to enhance rule of law and universal values and thus fade away criticisms other countries or foreign media might raise;

Amendment 216 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Stresses the need to raise awareness of Russian persistent disinformation campaigns among the elites, journalists and ordinary citizens, in the age of global media outlets no one is exempt from the influence of such campaigns; considers it necessary to build resilience, prevent and respond in good time; considers it of paramount importance for the EU to actively engage in spreading the EU message in Russia as well as among Russian language speakers in the EU and Eastern Partnership countries;

Amendment 217 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

~~6. Stresses that Russia is exploiting the absence of a legal international framework in areas such as cybersecurity, and is turning any ambiguity in these matters in its favour;~~deleted

Amendment 218 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

~~6. Stresses that Russia is exploiting the absence of a legal international framework in areas such as cybersecurity, and is turning any ambiguity in these matters in its favour;~~deleted

Amendment 219 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

~~6. Stresses that Russia is exploiting the absence of a legal international framework in areas such as cybersecurity, and is turning any ambiguity in these matters in its favour;~~deleted

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A a (new)

-Aa. whereas the EU has committed to guide its actions on the international scene by the principles that have inspired its creation and development, such as democracy, rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;

Amendment 220 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

~~6. Stresses that Russia is exploiting the absence of a legal international framework in areas such as cybersecurity, and is turning any ambiguity in these matters in its favour;~~deleted

Amendment 221 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

~~6. Stresses that Russia is exploiting the absence of a legal international framework in areas such as cybersecurity, and is turning any ambiguity in these matters in its favour;~~deleted

Amendment 222 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses th~~at Russia is exploiting the absence of a legal international framework in areas such as cybersecurity, and i~~e need to establish peace in cyberspace; points out that the proper international process for managing the risks of cyber-warfare would entail an international conference, under the aegis of the UN, to adapt conflict-of-laws provisions to this new terrain; stresses that, by excluding emerging powers, the Tallinn Group’s teur~~ning any ambiguity in these matters in its favour~~o-Atlantic initiative has put the process at risk and has undermined peace in cyberspace worldwide;

Amendment 223 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that ~~Russia is exploit~~aggressive Russian activities ing the ~~absence of a legal international framework in areas such as cybersecurity, and is turning any ambiguity in these matters in its favour~~cyber domain facilitate activities in information warfare; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to pay attention to the role of Internet Exchange Points as critical infrastructure in the EU's security strategy;

Amendment 224 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Russia is exploiting the absence of a legal international framework in areas such as cybersecurity, and is turning ~~any~~ ambiguity in these matters in its favour;

Amendment 225 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that Russia is exploiting the absence of a legal international framework in areas such as cybersecurity, the lack of accountability in media regulation and is turning any ambiguity in these matters in its favour;

Amendment 226 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Condemns the regular crackdowns on the independent media, journalists and civil society activists in Russia and occupied territories, including Crimea since its illegal annexation; stresses that since 1999, dozens of journalists have been killed, disappeared without trace or have been imprisoned in Russia, including - Natalya Estemirova and Anna Politkovskaya;

Amendment 227 #

Marek JUREK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses that Russia’s current elites come directly from the power structures of the former Soviet Union and are legitimising their policy as a continuation of the USSR’s aggressive policy in Europe and elsewhere in the world;

Amendment 228 #

María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Underlines that a sound EU's strategic communication is essential to effectively respond to hybrid threats and related Russian disinformation and propaganda activities. Providing swift factual responses and raising public awareness about these activities are major factors for building societal resilience;

Amendment 229 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Highlights that Russia employs media to support campaigns - such us the so-called "anti-fracking" movement - that allegedly aim at protecting the environment even though they actually threat EU energy independence and security;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

~~A. whereas the EU is under growing, systematic pressure to tackle the information, disinformation and misinformation campaigns from the east and from the south;~~deleted

Amendment 230 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses that it would be irresponsible to place a State like Russia at the same level of threat as Da'esh';

Amendment 231 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Notes that in Syria, Russian airstrikes were directed frequently against targets different than Daesh and therefore forcing a large number of migrants to escape their homes and seek refuge in Europe; underlines that Russia is actively using this trend to weaponise migration flows and use it as part of their disinformation campaign;

Amendment 232 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Underlines that EU's strategic communication should make full use of social media tools, traditional visual, audio and web-based media as well as linguists fluent in relevant non-EU languages and social media specialists, who can monitor non-EU information and ensure targeted communication to react to disinformation;

Amendment 233 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Highlights the importance of better communication and explanation of the EU policies, both internal and external, with an aim to avoid manipulation or misinterpretation of the EU's policies and activities; EU's strategic communication should increase understanding of EU's policy in the eastern neighbourhood, especially the nature and the benefits from the AA/DCFTA and other new bilateral agreements that are currently being negotiated in order to enhance the visibility of the EU and contribute to the understanding off EU's policies in its eastern neighbourhood;

Amendment 234 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 d (new)

6d. Invites the Member States to develop coordinated strategic communication mechanisms to support attribution and counter disinformation and propaganda in order to expose hybrid threats;

Amendment 235 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3

Understanding and tackling ISIL/Da’esh’s information warfare and radicalisation methods

Amendment 236 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3

Understanding and tackling Da’esh’s disinformation ~~warfare~~ and radicalisation methods

Amendment 237 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -7 a (new)

-7a. Acknowledges that many young individuals are recruited and radicalized by Da'esh through social media; calls on the EU and its Member States to create a comprehensive plan which will enable data-collection and also defuse media channels that Da'esh uses to target youth;

Amendment 238 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 239 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Is aware of the range of strategies employed by Da’esh both regionally and globally to promote its political, religious and social narratives; calls on the EU and its Member States to develop a counter- narrative to Da’esh, including through the empowerment and increased visibility of mainstream Muslim scholars who have the credibility to delegitimise Da’esh’s propagandaStresses emphatically that equating UN-recognised States what is no more than a terrorist group flies in the face of our diplomatic traditions, and that such a provocative step is unworthy of responsible decision-makers whose concerns are peace and global stability;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU is under growing, systematic pressure ~~to tackle the information, disinformation and misinformation campaigns from the~~as a result of the so- called democratic revolutions promoted by the United States (Iraq, Afghanistan, the Arab Spring), the colour revolutions which destabilised eastern and ~~from the south~~southern Europe and the support for totalitarian NATO member Turkey;

Amendment 240 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Is aware of the range of strategies employed by Da’esh both regionally and globally to promote its political, religious and social narratives; calls on the EU and its Member States to develop a counter- narrative to Da’esh, including through the empowerment and increased visibility of mainstream Muslim scholars who have the credibility to delegitimise Da’esh’s propagandaUrges the EU and the Member States to develop and disseminate a counter-narrative to jihadist propaganda, with particular emphasis on an educational dimension demonstrating how the promotion of radical Islam is theologically corrupt; is concerned at the use being made by Islamic State of social media (i.e. Facebook and Twitter) as propaganda and recruitment tools, targeting young people in particular;

Amendment 241 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Is aware of the range of strategies employed by Da’esh both regionally and globally to promote its political, religious ~~and~~, social, hateful and violent narratives; calls on the EU and its Member States to develop a counter- narrative to Da’esh~~, including through the empowerment and increased visibility of mainstream Muslim scholars who have the credibility to delegitimise Da’esh’s propaganda~~;

Amendment 242 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Is aware of the range of strategies employed by Da’esh and Al-Qaeda both regionally and globally to promote its political, religious and social narratives; calls on the EU and its Member States to develop a counter- narrative to Da’esh and Al-Qaeda, including through the empowerment and increased visibility of mainstream Muslim scholars who have the credibility to delegitimise Da’esh’s and Al- Qaeda propaganda;

Amendment 243 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. IWelcomes the efforts by the Global Coalition to counter ISIL/Da'esh; supports the EU Regional Strategy for Syria and Iraq as well as the ISIL/Da'esh threat; is aware of the range of strategies employed by ISIL/Da’esh both regionally and globally to promote its political, religious and social narratives; calls on the EU and its Member States to further develop athe counter- narrative to ISIL/Da’esh, including through the empowerment and increased visibility of mainstream Muslim scholars who have the credibility to delegitimise ISIL/Da’esh’s propaganda; underlines that in the United States the Global Engagement Center coordinates, integrates and synchronizes messaging to foreign audiences that undermines the disinformation espoused by violent extremist groups, including ISIL/Da'esh and al-Qaeda, and that offers positive alternatives;

Amendment 244 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Is aware of the range of strategies employed by Da’esh both regionally and globally to promote its political, religious and social narratives; calls on the EU and its Member States to develop a counter- narrative to Da’esh, including through the empowerment and increased visibility of mainstream Muslim scholars who have the credibility to delegitimise Da’esh’s propaganda; considers that the best countervailing information would be provided by policies capable of combating the underlying causes of extremism, starting with poverty and social exclusion;

Amendment 245 #

Fernando RUAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Is aware of the range of strategies employed by Da’esh both regionally and globally - particularly in Europe, to promote its political, religious and social narratives; calls on the EU and its Member States to develop a counter- narrative to Da’esh, in~~cluding~~volving the education system and through the empowerment and increased visibility of mainstream Muslim scholars and other opinion leaders, who have the credibility to delegitimise Da’esh’s propaganda;

Amendment 246 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 247 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 248 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Underlines the importance of including the counter-propaganda strategy against Daesh in a broader, comprehensive regional strategy that combines diplomatic, socio-economic, development and conflict prevention tools; calls for a greater emphasis to be put on the prevention of terrorism and to address the underlying factors such as state failures, conflicts, poverty and proliferation of arms that allow terrorist organisations to flourish; developing counter-terrorism actions plans with Southern Mediterranean partner countries should be a key element of this strategy;

Amendment 249 #

Marielle DE SARNEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls on Member States to work together with the Commission and internet service providers to develop and implement a joint European strategy to combat online radicalisation and incitement to terrorism; notes that such a strategy must be regularly updated;

Amendment 25 #

Javier NART, Paavo VÄYRYNEN, Ivo VAJGL, María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU ~~is under grow~~and its Member States are the targets of increasing,ly systematic ~~pressure to tackle the information, disinformation and misinformation campaigns from the east and from the south~~and widespread communication and propaganda strategies intended to undermine their values and interests that are being conducted by third countries and by transnational terrorist and criminal organisations;

Amendment 250 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Underlines that Islamist terrorist organisations, especially ISIS and Al- Qaeda, are engaged in active information campaigns with the aim to undermine and increase the level of hatred against European values and interests;

Amendment 251 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Welcomes the creation of the Arab Stratcom Task Force that has the potential to contribute effectively to the deconstruction and to the fight against Daesh extremist propaganda and influence; believes that the focus put by this Task Force on the support of local actors through pilot projects is the right approach to develop counter-narratives to terrorist propaganda and promote fundamental rights; considers the full involvement of EU delegations as a positive development that facilitates the Task Force support to journalists and media actors;

Amendment 252 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)

7c. Is concerned about the widespread use by Daesh of social media tools and especially Twitter and Facebook to advance its propaganda and recruitment objectives, recalls the need for further engagement from the social media companies to combat the terrorist propaganda more efficiently; highlights the involvement of the European Parliament in countering terrorist content and hate speech online through the EU Internet Forum;

Amendment 253 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

Amendment 254 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Emphasises that the EU is a targeted audience for Da’esh and calls for the EU and its Member States to work more closely to protect society, in particular young people, from recruitment and radicalisation; calls on each Member State to investigate the socio-demographic reasons that are at the root cause of vulnerability to radicalisationDa’esh recruits chiefly among non-integrated immigrants; notes that the recruitment effort is fed by Muslim Brotherhood propaganda; calls on the EU not to interfere with Member States’ policies for immigration control and for neutralising cells of violent activists or clerics;

Amendment 255 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Emphasises that the EU is also a targeted audience for ISIL/Da’esh ~~and~~; calls for the EU and its Member States to ~~work more~~continue to work closely to protect society~~, in particular young people,~~ from terrorist attacks and from recruitment and radicalisation; ~~calls on each Member State to~~ underlinves~~tig~~ thate the ~~socio-demograph~~Council has called to promote criminal justice reaspons ~~that are at the root cause of vulnerability to radicalisation~~e measures to radicalization leading to terrorism and violent extremism;

Amendment 256 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

Amendment 257 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Emphasises that the EU is a targeted audience for Da’esh and calls for the EU and its Member States to work ~~more~~ closely to protect society, in particular young people, from recruitment and radicalisation; calls on each Member State ~~to investigate the socio-demographic reasons that are at the root cause of vulnerability to~~, working closely with the Radicalisation Awareness Network Centre of Excellence established in October 2015, to institute multi-dimensional arrangements (linking university research, prison administrations, the police, the courts, social services and education systems) to combat radicalisation;

Amendment 258 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Emphasises that the EU is a targeted audience for Da’esh and calls for the EU and its Member States to work more closely to protect society, in particular young people, from recruitment and radicalisation; calls upon each Member State to investigate ~~the~~and effectively address the underlining socio- demographic reasons that are at the root cause of vulnerability to radicaliszation;

Amendment 259 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Emphasises that ~~the EU is~~European citizens are a targeted audience for Da’esh and calls for the EU and its Member States to work more closely to protect society, in particular young people, from recruitment and radicalisation; calls on each Member State to investigate the socio-demographic reasons that ~~are at the root cause of vulnerability~~can be conducive to radicalisation;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU is under growing, systematic pressure to tackle the information, disinformation and misinformation campaigns from ~~the east and from the south~~countries and non-state actors, which intend to undermine the very notion of objective information or ethical journalism, casting all information as biased or an instrument of political power;

Amendment 260 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Emphasises that the EU is a targeted audience for Da’'esh and other networks and organizations which promote extreme forms of political Islam, including Wahhabist and Salafist ideologies supported by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf States; calls for the EU and its Member States to work more closely to protect society, in particular young people, from recruitment and radicalisation; calls on each Member State to investigate the socio-demographic reasons that are at the root cause of vulnerability to radicalisation;

Amendment 261 #

Louis MICHEL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Emphasises that the EU is a 8. targeted audience for Da’esh and calls for the EU and its Member States to work more closely to protect society, in particular young people, from recruitment ~~and radicalisation~~, radicalising influences and violent extremism and to make them more capable of defending themselves against them; calls on each Member State to investigate the socio-demographic reasons that are at the root cause of vulnerability to radicalisation and to share with the other Member States the knowledge that they gather;

Amendment 262 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Emphasises that the EU is a targeted audience for Da’esh and calls for the EU and its Member States to work more closely to protect society, in particular young people, from recruitment and radicalisation, recalling that the best way of attaining this aim lies in investment to promote social inclusion and job creation; calls on each Member State to investigate the socio-demographic reasons that are at the root cause of vulnerability to radicalisation;

Amendment 263 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Emphasises that the EU is a targeted audience for Da’esh and calls for the EU and its Member States to work more closely to protect society, in particular young people, from recruitment and radicalisation; emphasises the need of more enhanced focus on improving the EU tools and methods, mostly in the cyber area; calls on each Member State to investigate the socio-demographic reasons that are at the root cause of vulnerability to radicalisation;

Amendment 264 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Emphasises that the EU, among others, is a targeted audience for Da’esh and calls for the EU and its Member States to work more closely to protect society, in particular young people, from recruitment and radicalisation; calls on each Member State to investigate the socio-demographic reasons that are at the root cause of vulnerability to radicalisation;

Amendment 265 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the Member States to work on cutting Da’esh’s access to financing and funding and to promote this principle in the EU’s external action and stresses the need to expose Da’esh’s true nature and ideological legitimisation;deleted

Amendment 266 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the Member States to work on cutting Daesh’s access to financing and funding ~~and to promote this principle in the EU’s external action~~including thought petrol, art traffic or arm trade and to revise accordingly their relationship with some third countries, in particular Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and stresses the need to expose Da’esh’s true nature and ideological legitimisation;

Amendment 267 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the Member States to work on cutting Daesh’s access to financing and funding and to promote this principle in the EU’s external action ~~and stresses the need to expose Da’esh’s true nature and ideological legitimisation~~;

Amendment 268 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the Member States to work on cutting Daesh’'s access to financing and funding and to promote this principle in the EU’'s external action; in this context, expects the EU and its Member States to raise the issues of funding of Daesh, Al- Qaeda and other like-minded terrorist organisations by individuals and entities in its partner countries, particularly in the Gulf region, as well as from within the EU itself, and stresses the need to expose Da’esh’'s true nature and ideological legitimisation;

Amendment 269 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the Member States to work on cutting ISIL/Daesh’s access to financing and funding and to promote this principle in the EU’s external action and stresses the need to expose ISIL/Da’esh’s true nature and ideological legitimisation;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU is under growing, systematic pressure to tackle the information, disinformation and misinformation campaigns from ~~the east and from the south~~foreign actors;

Amendment 270 #

Fernando RUAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. CStrongly calls on the Member States to ~~work~~focus on cutting Daesh’s access to financing and to act firmly in order to eliminate their funding and to promote this principle in the EU’s external action and stresses the need to expose Da’esh’s true nature and ideological legitimisation;

Amendment 271 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to take consistent, EU-wide action against the hate speech systematically promoted by intolerant, radical preachers through sermons, books, TV shows, Internet and all other means that create a fertile ground for terrorist organisations like Daesh and Al-Qaeda to thrive; calls on the EU and its Member states, in their dealings particularly with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, to make it clear that the level of the EU´s cooperation with these countries will be directly linked to their efforts to curb the spread of intolerant ideology, which inspires Daesh and Al-Qaeda, to the EU and worldwide;

Amendment 272 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Support communication campaigns carried out by relevant actors in Syria, Iraq and in the region (including in countries of origin of foreign fighters) to discredit Da'esh's ideology and denounce its violations of human rights, and to counter violent extremism and hate speech linked to other groups in the region;

Amendment 273 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on Member States to shield their young people ideologically by teaching them history and the religious and cultural principles on which western civilisation and national and social cohesion have been based for so many centuries;

Amendment 274 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Underlines the importance for the EU and Member States to cooperate with social media providers to counter Da´esh propaganda spread through social media channels;

Amendment 275 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9b. Calls on the EU and its Member States, in their dialogue with MENA countries, to emphasise that good governance, accountability, transparency, rule of law and respect for human rights are essential pre-requisites to protect these societies from the spread of intolerant and violent ideologies that inspire terrorist organisations like Daesh and Al-Qaeda; call, in this respect, to prioritise educational reforms, job creation and empowerment of citizens as part of a broader effort to prevent and roll-back radicalisation of these societies;

Amendment 276 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -10 a (new)

-10a. Warns against a logic of opposing blocs, whether geographical or cultural; insists that the way to counter propaganda is though information and education; calls on the EU and the Member States to involve researchers and analysts in an extensive way in order to understand and deconstruct approaches based on hostility;

Amendment 277 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

Amendment 278 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the communication on the Joint Framework on countering hybrid threats and calls for the implementation of its recommendations without delay; calls on countries holding the rotating presidency of the EU to always include strategic communications as part of their programme in order to ensure continuity of work on this topic; welcomes the initiatives and achievements of the Latvian Presidency in this regardStresses that the Latvian Presidency must not allow the aggressive policy of certain eastern European countries towards Russia to be promoted under the cloak of the EU, otherwise both stability and peace in Europe would be placed at risk;

Amendment 279 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the proposals concerning disinformation campaigns set out in the communication on the Joint Framework on countering hybrid threats and calls for them to be implement~~ation of its recommendations~~ed without delay; calls on countries holding the rotating presidency of the EU to always include strategic communications as part of their programme in order to ensure continuity of work on this topic; welcomes the initiatives and achievements of the Latvian Presidency in this regard;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU is under growing, systematic pressure to tackle the information, disinformation and misinformation campaigns from ~~the east and from the south~~a range of internal and external actors;

Amendment 280 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the cAction Plan on strategic communication; welcomes the Joint Communication on the Joint Framework on countering hybrid threats and calls for the endorsement and implementation of its recommendations without delay; stresses that the actions proposed require cooperation and coordination of all relevant actors at the EU and national level; is of the opinion that only a comprehensive approach can lead to a success of EU efforts; calls on countries holding the rotating presidency of the EU to always include strategic communications as part of their programme in order to ensure continuity of work on this topic; welcomes the initiatives and achievements of the Latvian Presidency in this regard;

Amendment 281 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the communication on the Joint Framework on countering hybrid threats and calls for the implementation of its recommendations without delay; calls on countries holding the rotating presidency of the EU to always include strategic communications as part of their programme in order to ensure continuity of work on this topic; welcomes the initiatives and achievements of the Latvian Presidency in this regard; welcomes the intention of the upcoming Slovak Presidency to organize a conference on totalitarianism on the occasion of the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of the Totalitarian Regimes;

Amendment 282 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the communication on the Joint Framework on countering hybrid threats and calls for the implementation of its recommendations without delay; calls on countries holding the rotating presidency of the EU to always include strategic communications as part of their programme in order to ensure continuity of work on this topic; welcomes the initiatives and achievements of the Latvian Presidency in this regard; calls on HR/VP to ensure frequent communication at political level with Member States in order to better coordinate EU actions;

Amendment 283 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the communication on the Joint Framework on countering hybrid threats and calls for the implementation of its recommendations without delay; stresses that the Joint Framework needs an open understanding of what constitutes a hybrid threat as opposed to other threats; calls on countries holding the rotating presidency of the EU to always include strategic communications as part of their programme in order to ensure continuity of work on this topic; welcomes the initiatives and achievements of the Latvian Presidency in this regard;

Amendment 284 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the communication on the Joint Framework on countering hybrid threats and calls for the implementation of its recommendations without delay; calls on countries holding the rotating presidency of the EU to always include strategic communications as part of their programme in order to ensure continuity of work on this topic; welcomes the initiatives and achievements of the Latvian Presidency in this regard; stresses that cooperation of the EU and NATO in the field of strategic communication should be substantially strengthened;

Amendment 285 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the Action Plan on Strategic Communication and the communication on the Joint Framework on countering hybrid threats and calls for the implementation of its recommendations without delay; calls on countries holding the rotating presidency of the EU to always include strategic communications as part of their programme in order to ensure continuity of work on this topic; welcomes the initiatives and achievements of the Latvian Presidency in this regard;

Amendment 286 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the communication on the Joint Framework on countering hybrid threats and calls for the implementation of its recommendations without delay; calls on ~~countri~~the Member States holding the rotating presidency of the EU to always include strategic communications as part of their programme in order to ensure continuity of work on this topic; welcomes the initiatives and achievements of the Latvian Presidency in this regard;

Amendment 287 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Notes that instead of developing and pushing for positive messages regarding EU policies towards the Eastern neighbourhood, the EU strategic communication should first and foremost focus on combatting propaganda and disinformation as well as objective information about state of affairs in the European Union while strengthening the overall media environment in the European Neighbourhood and in the EU Member States;

Amendment 288 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Welcomes the establishment of NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence (NATO StratCom COE) in 2014 in Latvia. Stresses its support to NATO StratCom COE mission and activity; calls on EU institutions, Member States, especially NATO Members, to cooperate, contribute and support NATO StratCom COE and to utilize its findings and analysis;

Amendment 289 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Considers that the EU communication strategy must be two- pronged, both deconstructing hostile propaganda and putting across a positive message about EU achievements and activity;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU is under growing, systematic pressure to tackle the information, disinformation and misinformation campaigns and propaganda from the east and from the south by the state and non-state actors both online and offline;

Amendment 290 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Underlines the necessity and importance of a permanent communication strategy regarding the hidden realities from Russia;

Amendment 291 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10b. Calls, therefore, on the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Member States to convey an ambitious, accessible message about EU achievements and activity to people both within the EU and in neighbouring countries; highlights the need to explain EU external policy vis-à- vis neighbouring countries, with an emphasis on shared values, cooperation and peer-to-peer relationships; considers that the EEAS website could be the platform from which this message is disseminated, and calls for it to be translated into Russian and Arabic;

Amendment 292 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10b. Underlines that it is necessary to periodically review and identify the persons working in the EU institutions and media and acting as instruments of the Russian anti-European propaganda;

Amendment 293 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)

10c. Requests to the competent EU institutions and authorities to efficiently follow the financing sources of the anti- European propaganda;

Amendment 294 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 d (new)

10d. Requests to the competent EU institutions to implement a better coordination on communication strategy among them, being also aware of the excellent coordination of those involved in the anti-European propaganda;

Amendment 295 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

Amendment 296 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Recognises the possible impact of hostile propaganda on decision-making processes in the EU; calls therefore for the EU Strategic Communication Task Force to be reinforced by turning it into a fully- fledged unit within the EEAS, responsible for the east and for the south, with proper staffing and adequate budgetary resources; asks the EU to set up think tanks on the recent history of conflict propaganda (in the Balkans, Iraq, Libya and Syria and the ‘coloured revolutions’) and to launch a wide-ranging debate about external powers’ strategic use of information;

Amendment 297 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. ~~Recognises the possible impact of hostile propaganda on decision-making processes in the EU; c~~Calls therefore for the EU Strategic Communication Task Force to be reinforced by turning it into a fully- fledged unit within the EEAS, responsible for the east and for the south, with proper staffing and adequate budgetary resources;

Amendment 298 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

Amendment 299 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Recognises the possible impact of hostile propaganda on decision-making processes in the EU~~; calls therefore for the EU Strategic Communication~~ and its Member States; acknowledges highly professional and valuable work done thus far by the EU Strategic Communication Task Force and calls therefore for the Task Force to be reinforced by turning it into a fully- fledged unit within the EEAS, responsible for the east and for the south, with proper staffing and adequate budgetary resources, possibly by adding a dedicated budget line for this Task Force; in this regard, stresses the importance of strengthening institutional capacities of the Member States in increasing the EU's positive communication and responding to disinformation and propaganda at a national level and in the neighbourhood; emphasizes the necessity to continue strictly adhering to the principles of editorial independence and ethics of journalism in all on-going and future efforts of the EU strategic communication;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)

– having regard to the 20 March 2015 European Council conclusions (EUCO 11/15),

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

Amendment 300 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. ~~Recognises the possible impact of hostile propaganda on decision-making processes in the EU; calls therefore~~Calls for the EU Strategic Communication Task Force to be reinforced by turning it into a fully- fledged unit within the EEAS, responsible for the east and for the south, with proper staffing and adequate budgetary resources;

Amendment 301 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

Amendment 302 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

Amendment 303 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Recognises the possible impact of hostile propaganda on decision-making processes in the EU; calls therefore for the EU Strategic Communication Task Force to be reinforced by turning it into a fully- fledged unit within the EEAS, responsible for the east and for the south, with proper staffing and adequate budgetary resources; calls for enhanced cooperation among EU member states' intelligence services with a view to assess the influence by third countries seeking to undermine the democratic foundation and values of the EU;

Amendment 304 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Recognises enormous resources dedicated to stratcom activities by Russia and possible impact of hostile propaganda on decision-making processes in the EU; the possible impact of hostile propaganda on decision-making processes in the EU; calls therefore for the EU Strategic Communication Task Force to be reinforced by turning it into a fully- fledged unit within the EEAS, responsible for the east and for the south, with proper staffing and adequate budgetary resources;

Amendment 305 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Recognises the possible impact of hostile propaganda on decision-making processes in the EU; compliments on the significant work accomplished by the EU Strategic Communication Task Force and calls therefore for the EU Strategic Communication Task Force to be reinforced by turning it into a fully- fledged unit within the EEAS, responsible for the east and for the south, with proper staffing and adequate budgetary resources;

Amendment 306 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Recognises the possible impact of hostile propaganda on decision-making processes in the EU; calls therefore for the EU Strategic Communication Task Force to be reinforced by turning it into a fully- fledged unit within the EEAS, responsible for the east and for the south, with proper staffing and adequate budgetary resources and to develop deeper cooperation with NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence;

Amendment 307 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Is convinced that, in order to effectively counteract hostile propaganda, the EU and its Member States need at their disposal deep and comprehensive intelligence to identity and analyse its sources and impact; calls therefore on the Commission and Member States to initiate steps towards the establishment of a European Intelligence Agency, endowed with adequate resources and institutional autonomy to provide relevant intelligence that could be used to combat propaganda and strategic communication efforts directed against the EU and its Member States;

Amendment 308 #

Miroslav POCHE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Encourages EU member states to propose more candidates to take up roles in the EU strategic communication task force and encourages the European Commission and the European External Action to be much more proactive in dealing with propaganda directed at EU institutions through tools such as the production of timely and informative press releases, a designated spokesperson who can speak to media on the record, more social media activity and more general visibility;

Amendment 309 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Is concerned about pressure on private companies, especially online platforms, to voluntarily cooperate with EU bodies without much transparency or consistent rules about the kinds of content that is edited or deemed undesirable; stresses that restrictions on freedom of expression must be subject to independent judicial oversight; calls on Europol to publish guidelines on the notice and take down procedures of the Internet Referral Unit in this context;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU is under growing, systematic pressure to tackle ~~the~~certain information, disinformation and misinformation campaigns ~~from the east and from the south~~;

Amendment 310 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Stresses that it is essential for the EU to continue to actively promote though its external actions the respect of fundamental rights and freedoms; considers that supporting freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, the independence of media and the right to access information in the neighbouring countries should underpin EU's actions meant to counteract propaganda;

Amendment 311 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Asks the Strategic Communication Task Force, thus reinforced and under the Twitter username @EUvsDisInfo, to establish an online space where the public at large can find the range of tools for identifying disinformation, with an explanation of how they work, and which can act as a relay for the many civil society initiatives to this end;

Amendment 312 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Underlines that public authorities, like the EU Strategic Communication Task Force should be adequately staffed and ready to analyse and react promptly to external threats; recalls that its mandate consists in distributing facts- based information in a targeted way and explaining EU policy in a transparent way;

Amendment 313 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Reminds that countering propaganda with propaganda is counterproductive, therefore understands that the EU, as a whole, and member states, individually, can only fight propaganda by third parties by rebutting disinformation campaigns and making use of positive messaging and information;

Amendment 314 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Underlines the responsibility of Member States to actively, preventively, and in cooperation counter hostile information operations on their territories or aimed towards their interests; urges Member States' governments to develop their own strategic communications capabilities;

Amendment 315 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Calls for closer cooperation between the European Parliament and the EEAS in the strategic communication, including through the use of the Parliament's analytical capacities and Information Offices in the member states;

Amendment 316 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Underlines the central role of online tools, especially social media; calls on significantly increasing online media literacy on all levels to increase awareness and effectively counter propaganda;

Amendment 317 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Calls on each member state to make available to their citizens the disinformation digest and disinformation review as drafted by EU Strategic Communication Task Force in order to create awareness among the general public on propaganda methods used by third parties;

Amendment 318 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

Amendment 319 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU is under growing, systematic pressure to tackle the information, disinformation and misinformation campaigns from its neighbourhood, in the east and ~~from~~in the south;

Amendment 320 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

Amendment 321 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. ~~Call~~Points onut th~~e Commission to conduct a thorough review of the efficiency of the existing EU financial instruments and to com~~at independent media organs are characterised as such by the fact that they receive no subsidies from private forward with a proposal for a flexible solution which can provide direct support to independent media outlets and enable the channelling of additional resources to organisations that have the ability to do so, such as the European Endowment for Democracy public groups or bodies and by the independence of their journalists and channels of distribution or dissemination vis-à-vis political, financial and ideological forces; stresses that, by subsidising media organs which reflect its worldview, the EU is behaving in the same way as States which it criticises;

Amendment 322 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Commission to advance certain legal initiatives in order to be more effective and accountable in dealing with disinformation and propaganda; stresses that while political opinions and expressions are protected by the freedom of expression, there may be a need to strengthen existing legal instruments in order to sanction systematic lies and misinformation; underlines the importance of reviewing the Audio-Visual Media Services Directive, for instance to be able to deal with such cases when hostile propaganda tools are registered as EU media entities and use EU legal system as a cover; calls on the Commission to conduct a thorough review of the efficiency of the existing EU financial instruments and to come forward with a proposal for a flexible solution which can provide direct support to independent media outlets, think tanks, NGOs and enable the channelling of additional resources to organisations that have the ability to do so, such as the European Endowment for Democracy; calls on the Commission to conduct a thorough audit of the efficiency of certain big scale media projects funded by the EU, such as Euronews;

Amendment 323 #

Miroslav POCHE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Commission to conduct a thorough review of the efficiency of the existing EU financial instruments and to come forward with a proposal for a flexible solution which can provide direct support to independent media outlets and enable the channelling of additional resources to organisations that have the ability to do so, such as the European Endowment for Democracy; calls for providing direct support to journalists, including through financial means, from outlets in the European neighbourhood to come to Brussels in order to report, cover and get a better understanding for EU affairs and how the European Union functions;

Amendment 324 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Commission to conduct a thorough review of the efficiency of the existing EU financial instruments and to come forward with a proposal for a flexible solution which can provide direct support to independent media outlets and enable the channelling of additional resources to organisations that have the ability to do so, such as the European Endowment for Democracy; calls on the Commission to use the midterm review of the European Neighbourhood Instrument to establish strengthening the resilience of the media as a strategic priority;

Amendment 325 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Commission to conduct a thorough review of the efficiency of the existing EU financial instruments and to come forward with a proposal for a flexible solution which can provide direct support to independent media outlets especially in the target group native language and enable the channelling of additional resources to organisations that ~~have the ability to do so, such as~~proved its effectiveness in the area, notably the European Endowment for Democracy;

Amendment 326 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Commission to conduct a thorough review of the efficiency of the existing EU financial instruments and to come forward with a proposal for a comprehensive and flexible solution which can provide direct support to independent media outlets and enable the channelling of additional resources to organisations that have the ability to do so, such as the European Endowment for Democracy;

Amendment 327 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Underlines the importance of awareness raising, education, media and information literacy in EU and in the Neighbourhood with a view to empowering citizens to critically analyse media content in order to identify propaganda;

Amendment 328 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Highlights the importance of enabling citizens to counter propaganda and subsequently strengthen the resilience of societies to deal with it; stresses the necessity to enhance ethical and professional standards and to stick to the best practice of journalism and to support alternative independent sources of information and civil society organisations with a similar focus; points out that the EU support must in no way undermine the independence of these sources;

Amendment 329 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Acknowledges that in order to effectively counteract various forms of outside influence, a broader societal inclusion in the community building is necessary, especially amongst regional diasporas; notes, therefore, that a more proactive involvement of the ethnic Russian and Russian-speaking community into the Union's information space needs to take place, with particular attention given to the non-citizens of Latvia and Estonia;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU is under growing, systematic pressure to tackle the inf~~orm~~luence operations, disinformation and misinformation campaigns from the east and from the south;

Amendment 330 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Believes that public media should set the example of how to provide impartial and objective information in compliance with the best practice and ethics of journalism;

Amendment 331 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12c. Urges the Commission to support the setting up of a non-profit organisation dedicated to the defence of journalists facing litigation for their journalistic work against propaganda warfare/campaigns;

Amendment 332 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 333 #

Javier NART, Paavo VÄYRYNEN, Ivo VAJGL, María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses its support for initiatives such as the Baltic Centre for Media Excellence in Tallinn or the Radicalisation Awareness Network Centre of Excellence; underlines the need for strengthening analytical capabilities at all levels; calls for the Commission and the Member States to initiate similar projects, engage in the training of journalists, create independent media hubs, support media diversity and exchange best practices and information in these areasEmphasises that when information is standardised by external centres of influence (such as CNN) people are effectively rendered unable to think for themselves, and that this inevitably results in intellectual serfdom; emphasises too that standardising information in a negative way is a method of warfare that aims to prepare people mentally for armed confrontation; solemnly calls for the situation to be de-escalated and for information to be used in a non- ideological way;

Amendment 334 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses its support for initiatives such as the ~~Baltic Centre for Media Excellence in Tallinn or the~~ Radicalisation Awareness Network Centre of Excellence; underlines the need for strengthening ~~analy~~education, analytical and critical capabilities ~~at all level~~of youngsters; calls for the Commission and the Member States to initiate ~~similar projects, engage in the training of journalists, create independent media hubs, support media diversity and exchange best practices and information in these area~~educational projects and exchange best practices and information in order to reduce radicalization amongst younger generations;

Amendment 335 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 336 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses its support for initiatives such as the Baltic Centre for Media Excellence in ~~Tallinn~~Riga or the Radicalisation Awareness Network Centre of Excellence; underlines the need for strengthening analytical capabilities at all levels; calls for the Commission and the Member States to initiate similar projects, engage in the training of journalists, create independent media hubs, support media diversity and exchange best practices and information in these areas;

Amendment 337 #

Marielle DE SARNEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 338 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 339 #

Marek JUREK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Calls on the EU authorities to explicitly emphasise an identification with our nations’ legacy of civilised society, the memory of which was consistently destroyed under communism in Eastern Europe;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas in the Union the term "propaganda" is understood to mean spreading of ideas, concepts, information and political doctrines for the purpose of creating or changing public opinion; and the term "disinformation" is normally understood to mean deliberate spreading of intentionally false or inaccurate information;

Amendment 340 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Expresses concern that EU-related information is often too technical and is driven by the activities of politicians, EU dignitaries and official visits which makes it incomprehensible and not appealing to target audiences; stresses the necessity to concentrate communication materials on actual content of meetings, initiatives and projects and its impact on local people and to translate them into simple language with a use of innovative and creative methods for their dissemination and calls to review and update accordingly relevant EU websites; highlights the need to ensure that new ENP portal which is being developed in the framework of OPEN Neighbourhood Programme has not only content geared toward expert community as it is currently planned, but a version customised for general audience; is of opinion that the portal should contain a section on Eastern Partnership bringing together information about the initiative which is currently fragmented between numerous websites;

Amendment 341 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Notes that the effectiveness of the publicly and privately supported media outlets aimed at providing alternative sources of information - as compared to the presumably dominating Russia-based media sources - is severely impaired due to lack of public interest; emphasizes, therefore, that the respective media content disseminated amongst the target audiences has to be produced with closer attention given to and in conjunction with their everyday concerns and respective established mentalities;

Amendment 342 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Recognises that strategic communications efforts should not divert attention and resources from protecting and promoting European Union values and international Human Rights standards; calls upon the EU and its Member States to strengthen resolve to uphold the European Union's freedom of expression guidelines and international Human Rights agreements such as the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the OSCE Helsinki Accords;

Amendment 343 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Takes the view that the EU should step up efforts to counter Kremlin-led propaganda in the countries of the Eastern Partnership by supporting local independent media, training journalists according to high quality standards and strengthening investigative journalism; calls on the Commission start a process of reflection on the initial motivation that led to the setting-up of Euronews with the relevant overall assessment of its objectives and results and how to best achieve them in the future;

Amendment 344 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Notes the importance of cyber dimension in information warfare; underlines the crucial need to ensure resilience of the information systems on EU and Member State level, especially against denial and disruptions that can play a central role in hybrid conflict and countering propaganda; calls on close cooperation in this regard with NATO, especially with the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence;

Amendment 345 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Reiterates the need to support the independent media outlets and journalists in Russia, in the EU partner and candidate countries; Calls on the Commission and Member States to reinforce protection of journalists in Russia and in EU's Neighbourhood; calls for immediate release of journalist, including illegally imprisoned Oleg Sentsov;

Amendment 346 #

Paavo VÄYRYNEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Underlines the importance of citizens´ awareness to understand and handle disinformation and propaganda; stresses in this sense the importance of strengthening knowledge on all levels of the educational system; points out the need for encouraging people to active citizenship and for developing their awareness as media consumers;

Amendment 347 #

Traian UNGUREANU, Bogdan Andrzej ZDROJEWSKI, Cristian Dan PREDA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Calls for special attention and sufficient resources for media pluralism, local media, investigative journalism and foreign language media, particularly in Russian, Arabic, Farsi, Turkish and Urdu as well as other languages spoken by populations vulnerable to propaganda by Russia, Daesh or other actors;

Amendment 348 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Welcomes the establishment of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, which became functional in January 2014;

Amendment 349 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Is of the opinion that a special attention should be devoted to internet and social networks where the spread of false information and the launch of disinformation campaigns are easier and often face no hurdles; considers of the utmost importance to strengthen the capabilities of StratCom in order step up the monitoring and react promptly by circulating timely facts-checks and evidence-based information;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas media freedom, access to information, freedom of expression and media pluralism are cornerstones of open and pluralistic societies and basic principles of all democratic systems as well as founding values of the European Union;

Amendment 350 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Underlines that the language used by the EU institutions and politicians should be clear, to-the-point and difficult to manipulate;

Amendment 351 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)

13c. In face of growing terrorist threat from the side of Daesh and other international terrorist organisations, underlines the need to strengthen cooperation on security issues with countries, which have long - time experience in combatting terrorism, like Israel;

Amendment 352 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)

13d. Underlines that on one hand the Kremlin's information campaigns are often targeting anti-establishment, radical right and left wing political parties and organisations within the EU, which is coupled with significant financial resources offered in forms of loans and grants, and on the other hand, this strategy directly targets specific politicians and individuals in the EU, including the MEPs, in order to discredit and ridicule them; Calls on the Parliaments of Member States to examine the threats emanating from stratcom directed against the EU and its Member States;

Amendment 353 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 e (new)

13e. Notes that other authoritarian regimes and terrorist groups around the world are adopting strategies developed by Kremlin and ISIS; calls on the HR/VP and Members States to closely cooperate with its allies and organisations sharing the same values, especially NATO;

Amendment 354 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 f (new)

13f. Moreover, calls on the Commission and advises EU partner states to investigate and review existing financial mechanisms in order to curtail financial flows aimed at financing individuals and entities engaged in stratcom activities, incitement to violence and hatred;

Amendment 355 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 g (new)

13g. Calls for an urgent review of the audiovisual directive in order to adapt the European rules to the needs of countering stratcom, to increase the transparency of media ownership and to prevent situations, where media platforms based in one Member State are used to broadcast content which clearly is part of external information warfare aimed against another Member State; such review should also address the regulatory questions governing violation of EU rules on broadcasting, including a complaint procedure and mechanism for revoking licensing rights to channels and outlets engaged in propaganda activities, as well as incitement to violence and hatred;

Amendment 356 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 h (new)

13h. Calls on the HR/VP and the Council to confirm EU's full support to the ongoing implementation process and contribute financially to the realization of the recommendations of 'Feasibility Study on Russian-language media initiatives in the Eastern Partnership and Beyond', conducted the European Endowment for Democracy in 2015;

Amendment 357 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the EEAS.deleted

Amendment 358 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, Member States the Vice- President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, ~~and~~ the EEAS and NATO.

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas clearer definitions of the terms 'propaganda' and 'information' are needed if appropriate measures are to be taken, and whereas data and facts about the consumption of propaganda need to be compiled;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas EU is based on democratic principles of the rule of law, human rights and freedom and has an open political agenda while third party actors aiming at discrediting the Union do not share the same values;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas strategies to ensure quality journalism, media pluralism and fact-checking can only be effective as long as information providers enjoy trust and credibility;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas media freedom is the basic pillar of a democratic system and, thus, is incompatible with the creation of any counter-propaganda institution whose activity is a form of propaganda; whereas it is society, with its own TV, radio, press and internet professionals and companies who freely create the flow of information that keeps its citizenry informed; whereas the citizenry, in the exercise of their freedoms and their rights, chooses its information sources and, consequently, forms their own opinion;

Amendment 4 #

Traian UNGUREANU, Bogdan Andrzej ZDROJEWSKI, Cristian Dan PREDA

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 b (new)

– having regard to the EU Regional Strategy for Syria and Iraq as well as the ISIL/Da'esh threat of 16 March 2015 and reconfirmed by the Foreign Affairs Council on 23rd May 2016,

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas the European Council of 19 and 20 March 2015 stressed the need to challenge Russia's ongoing disinformation campaigns and invited the VP/HR, in cooperation with Member States and EU institutions, to prepare an Action Plan on strategic communication;

Amendment 41 #

Traian UNGUREANU, Bogdan Andrzej ZDROJEWSKI, Cristian Dan PREDA

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas new media with regard in particular to internet and social networks have created and broadened an open space of information where credible, less credible, not credible sources, disinformation campaigns and vested interests enjoy equal access;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)

Ac. whereas the overall objectives of the Action Plan are effective communication and promotion of EU policies and values towards the Eastern neighbourhood, strengthening of the overall media environment, including support for independent media, increased public awareness of disinformation activities by external actors, and improved EU capacity to anticipate and respond to such activities;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)

Ac. whereas in a democratic system the transparency of media ownership and the sources of financing of media are of the utmost importance in order to enable public opinion to identify and detect correctly stakes and interests of the parties concerned;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)

Ad. whereas in a democratic system an open climate of discussion is of key importance and controversial and vigorous debates should be encouraged; whereas, at the same time, there should be a critical assessment on how to deal with media sources that have a proven record of having repeatedly engaged in a strategy of deliberate deception and disinformation;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the information warfare targeting the West was first introduced by the Soviet Union, and has since been an integral part of modern warfare, targeting not only partners of the EU, but also all Member States and citizens irrespective of their nationality or religion;deleted

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 c (new)

– having regard to the report of the VP/HR on The European Union in a changing global environment A more connected, contested and complex world from 18 May 2015 and the ongoing work on a new EU Global Security Strategy,

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas th~~e informa~~ose revolutions warfare targeting the West was first introduced by the Soviet Union, and has since been an integral part of modern warfare, targeting not only partners of the EU, but also all Member States and citizens irrespective of their nationality or religionere triggered by information warfare involving disinformation, misinformation, propaganda and perception engineering;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas ~~the~~ information warfare ~~targeting the West was first introduced by the Soviet Union, and has since been~~is an integral part of modern warfare, targeting not only partners of the EU, but also all Member States and citizens ~~irrespective of their nationality or relig~~without distinction;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the information warfare targeting the West wais fdir~~st introduced by the Soviet~~ected not only towards the European Union, a~~nd has since been an integral part of modern warfare, targeting not only~~s such, but also towards partners of the EU, ~~but also all~~ Member States and citizens irrespective of their nationality or religion;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the information warfare targeting the West ~~was first introduced by the Soviet Union, and has since been~~is an integral part of modern warfare, targeting not only partners of the EU, but also all Member States and citizens irrespective of their nationality or religion;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas ~~the~~ information warfare ~~targeting~~is a historical phenomenon as old as warfare itself; whereas targeted information warfare against the West was first introduced by the Soviet Union, and has since been an integral part of modern warfare, targeting not only partners of the EU, but also all Member States and citizens ~~irrespective of their nationality or religion~~;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the information warfare ~~targeting the West was first introduced by the Soviet Union~~was an indisputable fact and an integral part of the Cold War, and has since been an integral part of modern warfare, targeting not only partners of the EU, but also all Member States and citizens irrespective of their nationality or religion;

Amendment 57 #

Louis MICHEL

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the information warfare targeting the West was first introduced by the Soviet Union, and has since been an integral part of ~~modern warfare~~the conduct of modern conflicts, targeting not only partners of the EU, but also all Member States and citizens irrespective of their nationality or religion;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the information warfare targeting ~~the West~~Europe was first introduced by the Soviet Union, and has since been an integral part of modern warfare, targeting not only partners of the EU, but also all Member States and citizens irrespective of their nationality or religion;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the information warfare targeting the West was first introduced by the Soviet Union, and has since been an integral part of modern hybrid warfare, targeting not only partners of the EU, but ~~also~~the EU itself, its institutions and all Member States and citizens irrespective of their nationality or religion;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)

– having regard to the presentation of EU ambassador in Irak Jana Hybaskova the 14th September 2014 to the Foreign Affairs committee, underlining the connection between Daesh funding and purchase of petrol by Member States,

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the information warfare targeting the West was first introduced by the Soviet Union, and has since been an integral part of modern warfare, targeting not only partners of the EU, but also the Union itself, all Member States and citizens irrespective of their nationality or religion;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas with Russia's annexation of Crimea and the Russian-led hybrid war in the Donbass the Kremlin has escalated the confrontation with the EU; whereas the Kremlin has stepped up its propaganda war with Russia playing an enhanced role in the European media environment aimed at creating the political support in the European public opinion for Russian action and undermining the coherence of the EU foreign policy;

Amendment 62 #

Javier NART, Paavo VÄYRYNEN, Ivo VAJGL, María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas information warfare constitutes an intrinsic part of hybrid warfare, a combination of military and non-military measures of a covert and overt nature, deployed to destabilise the political, economic and social situation of a country being under attack, without formal declaration of war, by unleashing chaos and confusion;

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas propaganda for war and any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law in accordance with Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the financial crisis and the advance of new forms digital media have posed serious challenges for quality journalism leading to decrease of critical thinking among the audiences thus making them more susceptible to disinformation and manipulation;

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas the propaganda war and the intrusion of Russian media is particularly strong and often unmatched in the countries of the Eastern neighbourhood; whereas national media are often weak and not able to cope with the strength and the power of Russian media;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)

– having regard to the joint communication to the European Parliament and the Council entitled 'Joint framework on combating hybrid threats: a European Union response' (JOIN(2016)0018),

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas Russian strategic communication accompanied numerous incidents, including cyber-attacks on Estonia in 2007, the war in Georgia in 2008, disinformation following the Smolensk crash in 2010 and the downing of MH-17 in 2014 and also, on an unprecedented scale, during the annexation of Crimea, aggression against Ukraine and more recently the migration crisiit was propaganda (weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, claims that the Syrian regime was using gas against civilians, caricatural reports of repression in Gaddafi's Libya) that led to the current state of chaos, which is not in Europe's interests, and whereas some of those claims have already been shown to have been false by subsequent events;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas Russian strategic ~~communication~~propaganda accompanied numerous incidents, including cyber-attacks on Estonia in 2007, the war in Georgia in 2008, ~~disinformation following the Smolensk crash in 2010~~ and the downing of MH-17 in 2014 and also, on an unprecedented scale, during the annexation of Crimea, aggression against Ukraine and more recently the migration crisis;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas Russian strategic communication accompanied numerous incidents, including cyber-attacks on Estonia in 2007, the war in Georgia in 2008, ~~disinformation following the Smolensk crash in 2010 and~~ the downing of MH-17 in 2014 and also, on an unprecedented scale, during the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of parts of the administrative districts of Donetsk and Lugansk in eastern Ukraine, aggression against Ukraine and more recently the migration crisis;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas ~~Russian~~in the last decade strategic communication accompanied numerous incidents, including cyber-attacks on Estonia in 2007, the war in Georgia in 2008, disinformation following the Smolensk crash in 2010 and the downing of MH-17 in 2014 ~~and also, on an unprecedented scale,~~, on both sides during the annexation of Crimea, a~~ggression against Ukraine~~nd the Ukrainian civil War and more recently the migration crisis;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas ~~Russian strategic communication~~Kremlin's hostile propaganda accompanied numerous incidents, including cyber-attacks on Estonia in 2007, the war in Georgia in 2008, disinformation following the Smolensk crash in 2010 and the downing of MH-17 in 2014 and also, on an unprecedented scale, during the annexation of Crimea, aggression against Ukraine and more recently the migration crisis;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas Russian strategic communication ~~accompanie~~s has been observed around numerous violent incidents, including cyber-attacks on Estonia in 2007, the war in Georgia in 2008, disinformation following the Smolensk crash in 2010 and the downing of MH-17 in 2014 and also, on an unprecedented scale, during the annexation of Crimea, aggression against Ukraine and more recently ~~the migration crisis~~around the flow of refugees fleeing Syria;

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union provides that everyone has the right to freedom of expression and this right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas information and communications warfare technologies are being employed in order to legitimize actions threatening EU members states' sovereignty, political independence, the security of their citizens and their territorial integrity;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the EU does not recognise Da'esh as a state or an organisation similar to a state;

Amendment 8 #

Javier NART, Paavo VÄYRYNEN, Ivo VAJGL, María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)

– having regards to its resolution of 25 November 2015 on the prevention of radicalisation and recruitment of European citizens by terrorist organisations (2015/2063(INI)),

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights guarantees freedom of expression but also stipulates that this freedom may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

~~D. whereas Da’esh and many other Islamic terrorist groups have often used communication strategies as part of their actions against the West and to boost recruitment of European youth;~~deleted

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas ~~Da’esh and many other Islamic terrorist groups have often used communication strategies as part of their actions against the West and to boost recruitment of European youth~~a return to cooperation between sovereign states is the only thing that can bring peace; whereas, more generally, foreign powers are trying to make the EU their playground by taking advantage of a puppet Commission and small servile states and stoking resentment against the traditional enemy, Russia, thus undermining the legacy of the founding fathers and the unity of Christian Europe; whereas all of the areas of sovereignty temporarily delegated to the EU have been used by foreign powers against the Member States; whereas the surrender of sovereignty by the Member States is the principal factor behind the EU becoming the first market open to propaganda and tools of influence such as the media;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas ~~Da’esh and many other Islamic terrorist groups have often~~jihadi terrorist groups, in particular Islamic State, are making increasingly systematic and intensive used of communication strategies ~~as part of their actions against the W~~, both to justify their attacks on EU values, citizens and interests and to ~~boost recruitment of~~conduct a large-scale recruitment drive targeted at European youth;

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas Da’esh, Al-Qaeda and many other Islamic terrorist groups ~~have often~~systematically used communication strategies as part of their actions against the West ~~and to boost recruitment of European youth;~~ , religious minorities and generally anyone who does not adhere to their violent and exclusivist interpretation of Islam in the Muslim-majority countries, and to boost recruitment of European youth; whereas the roots of Daesh, Al- Qaeda and similar terrorist organisations lie in Wahhabism, a form of Islam that has originated and is practiced in Saudi Arabia; whereas for decades Wahhabism has been funded and spread worldwide by the Saudi elites, severely undermining the traditional pluralism and tolerance of Islamic societies and the integration of Muslims in the European societies; whereas the Wahhabi proselytism is being increasingly identified as a threat by European governments, intelligence services and societies at large;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas Da’esh and many other Islamic terrorist groups have often used communication strategies as part of their actions against the ~~West and~~European values of democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and rule of law, also with the aim to boost recruitment of European youth;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas Da’esh and many other Islamic terrorist groups have often used anti-European strategic communication ~~strategies~~ as part of their actions against the West and to boost recruitment of European youth;

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas Da’esh and many other Islamic terrorist groups have often used communication strategies as part of their actions against the ~~West~~EU and the Member States and to boost recruitment of European youth;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas Da’esh and many other Islamic terrorist groups have often used communication strategies which challenge the Union and the Member States in a completely new way as part of their actions against the West and to boost recruitment of European youth;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas Da’'esh and many other Islamic terrorist groups have often used communication strategies and direct propaganda both offline and online as part of their actions against the West and to boost recruitment of European ~~youth~~s;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)

– having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 2 April 2009 on European conscience and totalitarianism,

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas ISIL/Da’esh and many other Islamic terrorist groups have often used communication strategies as part of their actions against the West and to boost recruitment of European youth;

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas Da’esh and many other Islamic terrorist groups have often used communication strategies ~~as part of~~to publicise their actions ~~against the West~~ and to boost recruitment of European youth;

Amendment 92 #

Marielle DE SARNEZ

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas Da’esh and many other Islamic terrorist groups ~~have often used~~are using communication strategies as part of their actions against the West and to boost recruitment of European youth;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas Da’esh and many other ~~Islamic terror~~violent extremist groups have often used communication strategies as part of their actions ~~against the West and~~ to boost recruitment of European youth;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas Da’'esh and many other Islamic terrorist groups have often used ~~communication~~propaganda strategies as part of their actions against the ~~West~~EU and to boost recruitment of European youth;

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas following NATO Strasbourg/Kehl Summit declaration stressing the increasing importance for the NATO to communicate in an appropriate, timely, accurate and responsive manner on its evolving roles, objectives and missions the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence (NATO StratCom COE) was established in Latvia in 2014 what was welcomed in NATO Wales Summit declaration;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas especially online tools, such as online media outlets and social media are being used to disseminate information, misinformation, disinformation and for propaganda purposes directly and through proxies;

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas governments can always voice their points of view and explain their policies; they should never seek to prevent non-violent ideas and opinions from being discussed;

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas a truly effective EU counter-propaganda strategy should be differentiated and adapted to the nature of the actors disseminating propaganda;

Amendment 99 #