Countering the information war from the East with robust cooperation

22.01.15 | News
Representatives from the Nordic Council and the Baltic Assembly met MEPs from the Nordic and Baltic countries on Thursday to discuss the EU’s Eastern Partnership. There was a broad consensus that cooperation between politicians with regard to information could be more efficient, as could cooperation to take the sting out of the information war from the East.

Christina Gestrin of the Nordic Council describes the meeting as a success and well attended by MEPs from Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, as well as the Baltic countries.

“This was the first time we met in this sort of arrangement and we agreed that we should continue as such. It is vital that MPs from both the EU and the individual countries can quickly exchange information relevant to the Eastern Partnership,” says Gestrin (Swedish People’s Party of Finland), a Finnish member of the Nordic Council’s Centre Group.

“The importance of the EU having a common understanding of foreign and security policy received considerable emphasis. It’s important that there are not contradictory comments from various quarters so as to divide the EU’s foreign policy. Equally important is not allowing Russia to divide this common understanding and so weaken the EU’s influence in the East and on the aggression there.

Improvements possible in countering propaganda

Gestrin notes that the information war that Russia is waging is under discussion in all national parliaments.

“The MEPs stressed that the EU must become more adept at dealing with the information war. The Baltic countries, which are subject to this propaganda on a daily basis, are particularly concerned about Russia’s next steps. People feel that anything could happen,” Gestrin says. 

The meeting was united in agreeing the need for continued dialogue – including dialogue with Russia. This is where Gestrin wants to see a clearer focus.

“It’s important to define what we mean by dialogue, and that we specify what we want the outcome of such dialogue to be. Environmental cooperation with Russia is a good example of a less sensitive area that can be used to support this, although focus should be sought for other areas as well. 

In addition to Christina Gestrin, delegates from the Nordic Council at the meeting in Brussels included Karin Gaardstad of Denmark (Social Democrats, Social Democrat Group), Michael Tetzschner of Norway (Conservative Party of Norway, Conservative Group), and Pyry Niemi of Sweden (Social Democrats, Social Democrat Group).