Disinfo: EU is supposed to mean solidarity but in practice, it fails 

Summary

The European Union is based on solidarity. We are being told this story at every European election. However, when the coronavirus crisis emerged there was no solidarity. Italy was not helped by the EU. It was helped by China, by Russia and by Cuba and unfortunately, not at all by the European Union. They feel abandoned.

Disproof

The COVID-19 outbreak constituted a serious challenge on Europe's readiness for a crisis. But the claim that "EU has done nothing" is false. The European Commission has approved a €50 million Italian aid scheme to support the production and supply of medical devices, as well as to help Italy provide the necessary medical treatment to those infected. On the 13th of March, the EU proposed a Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative, envisaging EUR 835 million for Italy. On the 26th of March 26, the European Parliament unanimously approved the initiative. The European Central Bank announced a 750 billion euro ($820 billion) asset purchase program in an effort to help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, as the death toll in Europe continues to rise. As part of the program, investors will purchase Italian securities to help the country counter the serious risks of the coronavirus. Individual EU members have also provided assistance to Italy specifically, including access to a hundred intensive care beds (Austria and Germany), 500 mobile medical units (Greece), 2.5 million masks (Austria and France), 30,000 protective suits (Czech Republic and France), 300 ventilators (Germany), as well as 50 medicalpersonnel (Poland, Romania, and non-member Norway). On the 26th of April Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said that a recovery fund to help EU countries weather the coronavirus’ economic impact should be worth €1.5 trillion and be available by mid-September. Read similar cases claiming that Italy is alone defending itself from coronavirus, without any help from hypocritical EU and that the EU left Italy face to face with an invisible and terrible enemy.

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RT France - YouTube (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 195
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 04/05/2020
  • Outlet language(s) French
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: China, Cuba, Italy, Russia
  • Keywords: European Union
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May 03, 2020
Disproof

A common pro-Kremlin narrative on “lost sovereignty” - in the case of Poland, this country is often presented as a “puppet-state” of the United States, EU or Germany. The statement that Poland is not a sovereign state is a conspiracy theory. Poland is an independent state, which shapes its own foreign and domestic policies. The Treaty of Lisbon has not “destroyed” the Polish sovereignty – the Constitution continues to be the supreme law of the Polish Republic. Read similar cases alleging that Polish policy towards Ukraine is shaped by the Americans, that the US keeps Poland on an anti-Russian leash and Poland's Eastern policy is dictated by the USA aiming to weaken Russia.

Disinfo: EU has been unable to support its most affected members

The unity of Europe dealt a serious blow by the COVID-19 epidemic. The European Union has been unable to support even its most affected countries, such as Italy.

May 03, 2020
Disproof

The COVID-19 outbreak constituted a serious challenge to Europe's readiness for a crisis. The claim that "EU has done nothing" is false.

The European Commission has approved a €50 million Italian aid scheme to support the production and supply of medical devices, as well as to help Italy provide the necessary medical treatment to those infected.

Disinfo: Ukrainian government and Maidan leaders are guilty of the May 2, 2014 Odesa tragedy

Everyone knows that it was Parubiy [one of the leaders of the Euromaidan and the former speaker of the parliament] who organised the Odesa Khatyn [the fire in the House of the Trade Unions], resulting in 48 deaths and more than 250 people injured. Most of the victims of the tragedy were burned alive in the House of Trade Unions. The investigation established that riots in Odesa were organised and planned.

May 03, 2020
Disproof

Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about May 2, 2014 clashes in Odesa and the resulting fire in the House of the Trade Unions. There is no evidence of Andriy Parubiy's involvement in the 2014 Odesa tragedy. At the time, Andriy Parubiy was the Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council. Regarding the investigation, United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine noted in its report in 2019: "Five years on, there has still not been any accountability for the killings of six and violent deaths of 42 individuals. Some of the criminal proceedings launched after the tragic events have stalled at the pre-trial investigation stage, while others did at the trial stage. This suggests a lack of genuine interest from the authorities to ensure justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators."