DISINFO: EU support for Russian civil society is a provocation
SUMMARY
EU support for Russian civil society, with a special emphasis on the youth, is a provocation aimed to create a whole layer of young people dissatisfied with the Russian government. They will then unite and form a force. It is very dangerous if young people are targeted. It is a bomb that will explode in about 10 years’ time.
RESPONSE
No evidence given for any "provocation". Despite of the recurring disinformation about "Russophobic" Europe, the EU is promoting people-to-people contacts with Russia. On 14 March 2016, the foreign ministers of the 28 EU Member States agreed on the five guiding principles of the EU's policy towards Russia. Fifth principle is increasing support for Russian civil society and promoting people-to-people contacts, given that sanctions target the regime rather than Russian people. www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2016/589857/EPRS_BRI(2016)589857_EN.pdf, In the Foreign Affairs Council 16 April 2018, all the EU Foreign Ministers saw as a key issue to increase EU:s support for Russian citizens, civil society, human rights defenders, people to people contacts, especially with a focus on the youth of the Russian Federation. In practise this means for example the Erasmus+ programme. Russian students and researchers are among the first - if not the first - of third countries benefiting from the Erasmus+ programme. It is something the EU wants to increase to make sure that links between the people are not only maintained but also increased. eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/42996/remarks-hrvp-mogherini-press-conference-following-foreign-affairs-council_en,