Belgium triggers EU crisis mechanism over Russian interference attempts in European elections

This Wednesday, Belgium activated the EU crisis mechanism in response to foreign interference attempts in the upcoming European elections in June. As the holder of the EU Council presidency, Belgium launched the tool to facilitate information exchange among the 27 member states regarding interference in key elections. Although the decision did not explicitly mention Russia or any other country, it comes after several instances of Russian espionage and revelations about a platform promoting Russian propaganda paying Members of the European Parliament for collaboration.

The emergence of the Voice of Europe network, based in Prague, has sparked concerns in Belgium and the Czech Republic, with investigations underway. This network has targeted far-right legislators from several European countries, raising alarms about Russia’s attempts to interfere in the European Parliament elections using tools such as espionage, disinformation campaigns, and influence agents. The European Parliament is set to vote on a resolution urging a thorough investigation of this case and proposing stricter controls.

Internal reports from EU institutions suggest an increase in Russian destabilizing activities aimed at undermining the EU’s credibility and tarnishing support for Ukraine, which has been in conflict with Russia for two years. Channels sympathetic to Russia and conspiracy theorists are highlighted for amplifying anti-EU narratives. European intelligence services have also warned about the Kremlin’s efforts to rebuild its espionage network within the EU, despite previous expulsions of diplomats and sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict.

During last week’s European Council meeting, leaders raised concerns about interference risks and agreed to closely monitor and contain them. Belgium and the Czech Republic have called for new sanctions and measures to counter Russian activities, urging European institutions to take action. The activation of the EU crisis mechanism will facilitate information exchange and coordination among member states ahead of the elections, focusing on addressing foreign interference using various levels of response based on the severity of the situation.

In addition to Russian interference, recent cases of Chinese espionage involving German and Belgian deputies have also contributed to concerns about foreign interference in European affairs. The activation of the European crisis mechanism is crucial to combatting interference and safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.