Belgium will investigate suspected Russian meddling in European Parliament elections after the country\u2019s intelligence services confirmed \u201cpro-Russian interference networks,\u201d Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Friday. <\/p>\n
Moscow\u2019s objective \u201cis to help elect more pro-Russian candidates to the European Parliament\u201d in order to weaken the EU\u2019s support for Ukraine, De Croo told reporters. <\/p>\n
A recent investigation by Czech authorities uncovered a \u201cpro-Russian influence operation in Europe\u201d involving espionage, said De Croo, which highlighted that Moscow has approached EU members of parliament and even paid some to promote a \u201cRussian agenda.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cBelgian intelligence services confirmed the existence of pro-Russian interference networks\u201d with activities in several European countries including Belgium, said De Croo, adding that Belgium\u2019s judicial authorities confirmed that Russian interference would be subject to prosecution. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe cash payments did not take place in Belgium, but the interference does,\u201d De Croo added. <\/p>\n
He did not name suspects or give further details of agencies or people alleged to be involved in the influence peddling. <\/p>\n
Russia has not publicly commented on Belgium\u2019s allegations. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe goal is very clear: a weakened European support for Ukraine serves Russia on the battlefield, and that is the real aim of what has been uncovered in the last weeks,\u201d he said. \u201cThese are very serious concerns and that is why I have taken action\u2026 we cannot allow this type of Russian menace in our midst. We need to act and we need to act both on the national level and we also need to act on the EU level.\u201d <\/p>\n
He went on to say that Belgium has a responsibility as one of the seats of EU institutions \u201cto uphold that every citizen\u2019s right to a free and safe vote can be maintained,\u201d but that \u201cmore tools to fight Russian propaganda and to fight Russian disinformation\u201d are also needed on an \u201cEU level.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in a new reality and we need to adapt to that new reality,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Belgium currently holds the presidency of the EU. The next elections to the European Parliament will take place from June 6-9, according to the European Council. <\/p>\n
The EU has donated billions to Ukraine in military support since the start of Russia\u2019s invasion in February 2022 and has sanctioned Russian officials. But Viktor Orban \u2013 Hungarian Prime Minister and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin \u2013 has held up Kyiv\u2019s membership negotiations with the EU and delayed aid deals. <\/p>\n
Far-right and populist parties, some of whom are considered sympathetic to the Kremlin, are expected to make gains at the European Parliament elections. There are concerns that this would influence \u2013 and possibly weaken \u2013 the EU\u2019s overall support for Ukraine. <\/p>\n
European support for Ukraine has become increasingly important as US support for Kyiv has faltered in recent months. European officials regularly discuss how possible it would be for the gap in funding to be plugged and fear what implications a Donald Trump return to the White House might mean. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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