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Disinfo: Brussels is dead thanks to its failure to respond to the coronavirus crisis

Summary

Brussels is dead. There is an ongoing battle against idiots. European leaders will give Brussels’ bureaucrats their comeuppance for their failure to act on the coronavirus crisis.

Disproof
Baseless speculation made without evidence. This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the alleged disintegration of the European Union as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. See similar disinformation cases that the EU's health and safety policies have failed, that the COVID-19 outbreak means the end of Europe, and that many European states will likely cease to exist due to the pandemic. The European Union is supporting the Member States in addressing the crisis, and mitigating the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. To cushion the blow to people’s livelihoods and the economy, the European Commission has adopted a comprehensive economic response to the outbreak, applied the full flexibility of the EU fiscal rules, has revised its State Aid rules and proposed to set up a EUR 37 billion Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative to provide liquidity to small businesses and the health care sector. To support scientific research into the COVID-19, the European Commission earmarked 47,5 million EUR for shortlisted research projects that can improve epidemiology and public health, including preparedness and response to outbreaks. The EU has also created first ever stockpile of medical equipment. Read more about the EU's response here and here.
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publication/media

Sputnik Czech (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 191
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 31/03/2020
  • Language/target audience: Czech
  • Country: EU, Czech Republic
  • Keywords: coronavirus, Euro-scepticism, EU disintegration

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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Schengen is dead; it is the main victim of the coronavirus

Schengen is dead; it is the main victim of the coronavirus.

April 05, 2020
Disproof
Baseless speculation; no evidence given. Consistent with earlier pro-Kremlin disinformation message that the Schengen zone has collapsed and more broadly, with the disinformation narrative that the EU is disintegrating as a result of the coronavirus crisis. The Schengen border code provides Member States with the capability of temporarily reintroducing border control at the internal borders in the event that a serious threat to public policy or internal security has been established:

Where there is a serious threat to public policy or internal security, these countries may exceptionally reintroduce border controls at its internal borders for a period of no more than 30 days (possible to prolong under conditions established by the code) or for the foreseeable duration of the serious threat. This action should be seen as a last resort. If such controls are to be reintroduced, the other EU countries that are part of the Schengen area and the European Commission must be notified without delay with a view to possible consultations. The European Parliament and the Council must be informed at the same time.

The European Union is supporting Member States in addressing the crisis and has adopted measures to mitigate the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. To cushion the blow to people’s livelihoods and the economy, the European Commission has adopted a comprehensive economic response to the outbreak, applied the full flexibility of the EU fiscal rules, has revised its State Aid rules and proposed to set up a EUR 37 billion Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative to provide liquidity to small businesses and the health care sector. To support scientific research into COVID-19, the European Commission earmarked 47.5 million EUR for shortlisted research projects that can improve epidemiology and public health, including preparedness and response to outbreaks. The EU has also created first ever stockpile of medical equipment. Read more about the EU's response here and here. For similar cases, see here, here, and here.

China’s successful handling of the coronavirus stems from its understanding of human rights, unlike the US and Europe

Despite the coronavirus outbreak beginning in China, Beijing has brought it rapidly under control – the number of domestically transmitted cases was reduced to virtually zero by the end of March. In the US and Western Europe, on the contrary, the number of cases is rising vertiginously with no peak in sight. This disastrous US and Western European failure will be more severe than the international financial crisis and will have profound geopolitical consequences. The most fundamental issue was that China started from a real understanding of human rights as they affect the real lives of people – not the artificial constructs of Western, purely formal ‘human rights.’ In a lethal epidemic, the key human right is to stay alive. But what was the response of the so called ‘human rights’ organizations in the West to this? Total and criminal condemnation of China’s successful strategy!

April 05, 2020
Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative that has emerged during the coronavirus crisis: that democracies and open societies are collapsing and unable to effectively manage the pandemic, while closed, "traditionalist" societies have coped much better. This message builds on the longstanding pro-Kremlin theme of the West's alleged moral decay. See similar cases that liberalism has facilitated the spread of the coronavirus, and that the coronavirus "war" is finally forcing Western ultraliberals to finally care for vulnerable people. Authoritarian regimes, which tend to control and manipulate information and to limit the freedom of doctors and scientists to engage in international cooperation, are often an obstacle to the timely detection and containment of epidemic outbreaks. This is exemplified by China’s deliberate cover-up of the early days of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan. The regime suppressed information about the virus and allowed it to spread unchecked in the crucial early days and weeks. The Chinese government censored and detained those doctors and whistleblowers who attempted to sound the alarm and warn their fellow citizens about the coronavirus threat. Due to this track record, concerns persist that the Chinese government is continuing to downplay statistics in order to claim victory against the disease and present itself as a public health superpower. Chinese news media and local residents have also raised questions about the COVID-19 death toll in Wuhan, while both the British government and US intelligence have cautioned that China has vastly underreported its coronavirus infections. In a notable rebuke of China's human rights record, the keynote essay for HRW's 2020 World Report - written by executive director Kenneth Roth - states that "China’s government sees human rights as an existential threat" and poses a serious danger to international human rights. Amnesty International also takes a grim view of China's human rights situation, noting "huge setbacks". See additional disinformation cases on the coronavirus here and on the West's moral collapse here.

Coronavirus catastrophic situation ends 500 years of European global domination

Europe has become the largest problem of the world due to the inability of the Europeans for a timely assessment of the Coronavirus danger, which has changed the continent into a global centre of this infection. The history of the Coronavirus puts an end to the 500 years of global domination of Europe – the “Sick Man of the World” cannot be an example for others by default. The situation with the Coronavirus also put an end to the “soft power” of Europe – in the eyes of the entire world, Europe has turned into the symbol of defeat, catastrophe, stupidity, irresponsibility and sloppiness.

April 05, 2020
Disproof

This message is part of the Kremlin’s disinformation campaign around the Coronavirus epidemic – it promotes a narrative of the imminent collapse of the EU due to the problems caused by the Coronavirus epidemic. The message about the alleged collapse of Europe due to the Coronavirus epidemic is a conspiracy theory and an element of the anti-European propaganda of the Kremlin. To cushion the blow to people’s livelihoods and the economy, the European Commission has adopted a comprehensive economic response to the outbreak, applied the full flexibility of the EU fiscal rules, has revised its State Aid rules and proposed to set up a €37 billion Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative to provide liquidity to small businesses and the health care sector. To provide all EU Member States with essential medical equipment, the EU has created the European stockpile of ventilators, masks and lab supplies. This medical and protective equipment is available to any EU country. The Commission will finance 90% of this stockpile through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (RescEU). To support scientific research into the COVID-19, the European Commission has earmarked €47.5 million for shortlisted research projects that can improve epidemiology and public health, including preparedness and response to outbreaks. The EU has also created its first-ever stockpile of medical equipment. See other disinformation messages connected to the Coronavirus epidemic - Coronavirus will cause the dissolution of the EU and NATO, Pentagon-funded biological laboratories involved in creation of Coronavirus, The Baltic states may not survive the coronavirus-related economic crisis and Germany called for lifting sanctions against Russia because of Coronavirus. More on EU repsonse to the COVID-19 outbreak here