DISINFO: Europe has rapidly lost its independence
SUMMARY
Europe can hardly lay claim to the role of a separate center of a multipolar world, although Moscow would like that. Washington, as the Russians say, “lined up” the rest of the collective West. Europe rapidly, just before our eyes, lost its independence and can hardly claim the role of a separate center of a multipolar world.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about an alleged loss of sovereignty of the EU and its member states. Pro-Kremlin outlets often portray European states as vassals, puppet states or colonies of the US and NATO.
Contrary to the claim, the European Union is a sovereign entity created by the voluntary initiative of European nations and it has its own, independent foreign policy, while the US has no say in its decisions.
EU Member States are sovereign countries and make sovereign decisions about their own internal, economic, foreign and security policies. The European Union is explicit on the subject of national sovereignty: “the Member States all remain sovereign and independent states, they have decided to pool some of their 'sovereignty' in areas where it makes sense to work together.”
In fact, the EU Member States are sovereign countries and make sovereign decisions. The US is an important ally to the EU but EU policy is not determined by the US.
Similar disinformation narratives claim that NATO is a new type of US colonialism, that European élites obey Washington, that EU and NATO member states are subordinate to the US, while the US has long regarded the EU as a kind of protectorate, and that lined up with the US, the EU never took independent decisions.
Read more about the EU response and support for Ukraine. See our guide to deciphering pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's war.