By Martin Banks

MEPs in Strasbourg have warned of elected politicians and parties in Europe  who, they say, are “knowingly serving Moscow’s interests.”

This, say the Euro deputies, is “undermining the EU’s unity and democracy.”

In a resolution adopted on Thursday with 433 votes in favour, 56 against and 18 abstentions, Parliament expresses what it calls its “complete outrage and grave concern about the continuous efforts by Russia to undermine European democracy through various forms of interference and disinformation.”

A parliament statement issued after the vote said, “With the Kremlin attempting to sow divisions between European citizens, the text highlights how Moscow is recruiting some MEPs as “influence agents” and has created a dependent relationship with certain European political parties, including through funding, which then act as amplifiers of Russian propaganda and serve Russia’s interest.”

Expressing “deep concern” over recent media reports that one MEP has allegedly acted as an informant for Russian security service FSB, the resolution stresses it is imperative for both the European Parliament and the authorities to “thoroughly investigate the matter, to determine any appropriate sanctions and criminal proceedings.”

At the same time, the resolution also points to other cases of MEPs “knowingly serving Russia’s interests including through fake electoral observation missions to Russian occupied territories.”

Referring to regular revelations across Europe for “many” years, the statement adds, “MEPs are outraged that Russia, often in breach of EU member state legislation, has found ways to provide significant funding to political parties, politicians, officials and movements in several democratic countries to interfere and gain leverage in their democratic processes.”

The statement adds, “This includes giving bank loans, purchase and commercial agreements and facilitating financial activities. The text also lists examples of recent Russian inference attempts in various countries, including the supplying of narratives to far-right political parties and actors in Germany and France with the aim of subverting public support for Ukraine, but also in Slovakia. MEPs are also concerned about the widespread disinformation and illegal content spread on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.”

Looking at what it calls Moscow’s “support” for separatist movements in Europe, MEPs say they are “extremely concerned about alleged relations between Catalan secessionists, including the representatives of the regional Catalan government on the one hand, and the Russian administration on the other.”

The parliament statement continues, “Parliament wants the cases revolving around contacts between the Catalan MEPs in question and Russian representatives to be referred to the European Parliament’s Advisory Committee on the Conduct of Members for further scrutiny.”

The resolution also asserts that “Russian interference in Catalonia would be part of a broader Russian strategy to promote internal destabilisation and EU disunity. Parliament also calls on the relevant judicial authorities to undertake effective investigations into the connections of MEPs allegedly associated with the Kremlin.”