Il-midja tal-aħbarijiet trasparenti u indipendenti hija kruċjali biex tiġġieled l-interferenza barranija

L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista Alfred Sant sostna li huwa essenzjali li titqajjem kuxjenza dwar ir-realtà tal-interferenza barranija fl-affarijiet politiċi tal-Istati Membri tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Waqt dibattitu fil-Parlament Ewropew fi Strasburgu dwar rapport dwar l-interferenza barranija fil-proċessi demokratiċi kollha fl-Unjoni Ewropea, inkluż id-diżinformazzjoni, huwa enfasizza li l-midja tal-aħbarijiet trasparenti u indipendenti hija kruċjali għal-libertà u l-pluraliżmu tal-midja. Barra minn hekk, saħaq li dawn jgħinu biex jiġġieldu attakki malizzjużi li jkunu għaddejjin li jistgħu jfixklu l-proċessi demokratiċi u l-elezzjonijiet.

Il-Kumitat Speċjali għall-interferenza barranija fil-proċessi demokratiċi kollha fl-Unjoni Ewropea, inkluża d-diżinformazzjoni, inħoloq fuq inizjattiva tas-S&D fl-2022 biex jiġġieled l-indħil minn poteri barranin fl-istituzzjonijiet tal-Ewropa.

L-eks Prim Ministru Malti appoġġja l-miżuri kollha fir-rapport u stqarr li r-rapport iressaq soluzzjonijiet konkreti bħall-ħolqien ta’ fond tal-midja tal-aħbarijiet permanenti tal-Unjoni Ewropea fil-programm Ewropew Kreattiv 2021-2027, u bażi ta’ data fl-Unjoni Ewropea kollha dwar inċidenti ta’ interferenza barranija. Madanakollu, huwa għamel sejħa qawwija biex ikun hemm approċċ aktar awtokritiku li japprofondixxi dak li qed jagħmlu l-atturi ewlenin Ewropej inklużi s-servizzi sigrieti tagħhom flimkien mal-organizzazzjonijiet awżiljarji biex jipparteċipaw u jintervjenu fl-affarijiet ta’ Stati mhux Membri u Stati Membri.

Sant saħaq li hemm bżonn ta’ qafas oġġettiv biex jiġi ġġudikat dak li hu leġittimu u dak li mhux f’dan il-qasam dejjem aktar importanti tar-relazzjonijiet internazzjonali.

Ir-rapport ġie adottat b’552 vot favur, 81 kontra u 60 astensjoni.

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Transparent and independent news media are crucial to counter foreign interference

Labour MEP Alfred Sant stated that it is essential to raise awareness about the reality of foreign interference in the political affairs of European Union Member States. During a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg about a report on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation, he emphasized that transparent and independent news media are crucial for media freedom and pluralism. Besides, he stressed that these help to counter ongoing malicious attacks that could disturb democratic processes and elections.

The Special Committee for foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation, was created on an S&D initiative in 2022 to counter interference by foreign powers in Europe’s institutions.

The former Maltese Prime Minister supported all measures in the report and stated that it puts forward concrete solutions such as the creation of a permanent European Union news media fund in the 2021-2027 Creative European programme, and a European Union-wide database on incidents of foreign interference. However, he issued a strong call for a more self-critical approach that would delve deeper into what European key players including their secret services plus auxiliary organizations are doing to participate and intervene in the affairs of non-Member States and Member States.

Sant emphasized that an objective framework is required to judge what is legitimate and what is not in this increasingly important domain of international relations.

The report was adopted with 552 votes in favour, 81 against and 60 abstentions.