Germany and France want the European Union to use "creative ways" to spread independent information inside Russia to counter Kremlin propaganda.
Bloomberg writes about it.
In a joint non-official document titled "Protecting International Order in an Age of Systemic Rivalry: EU-Russia Relations," France and Germany call for open channels of communication with the Russian government, even as they call for expanded sanctions against Russian officials and continued financial and military sanctions. support of Ukraine.
This is an unofficial document prepared by technical experts from EU member states for discussion behind closed doors.
The document was circulated among EU member states ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers in Prague on Tuesday and Wednesday, where they will discuss the ban on issuing visas to Russian tourists.
The plan to counter domestic propaganda may include the use of "technical measures against Russian censorship, i.e. by bypassing Internet censorship," the document says, as well as providing Russian-language content for Russian-speaking minorities abroad.
Another proposal includes financing media literacy courses in Russian, which could be distributed by video bloggers on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Telegram channels and Vkontakte.
In the meantime, the EU should "maintain certain channels of communication with Russia" to minimize the risk of unintended escalation and ensure "minimum cooperation" in areas of primary interest, such as the UN Security Council or the Iran nuclear deal.
