The European Parliament on Wednesday urged the EU to fight back
against “hostile propaganda” by the Kremlin, prompting a swift rebuke
from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

EU lawmakers approved a motion condemning outlets like
television channel RT (previously Russia Today) and the news agency Sputnik for
disseminating “absolutely fake” news, while accusing the Kremlin of
backing anti-EU parties.

They urged the European Union to boost its “tiny”
nine-strong strategic communication force set up to counter disinformation when
tensions grew with Russia amid the conflict in Ukraine.

The MEPs said they were “seriously concerned by the
rapid expansion of Kremlin-inspired activities in Europe, including
disinformation and propaganda seeking to maintain or increase Russia’s influence
to weaken and split the EU”.

The motion was approved by 304 votes to 179 – with eurosceptic
parties like Britain’s UKIP and France’s Front National voting against – with
208 abstentions.

Putin lashed out at the European Parliament for “trying
to teach us democracy” while at the same time there was a “clear
degradation… of the concept of democracy in Western society”.

“I certainly hope that common sense will prevail
however, and we will not see any actual restrictions,” he added.

“As for our journalists who promoted this influential
European body to take such decisions, judging by the situation, we can
congratulate them on working so actively and with such talent and
results.”

But in their hard-hitting resolution, the MEPs warned that
the Kremlin was using a “wide range of tools and instruments”
including think-tanks, television and “pseudo news agencies” to
spread fake information.

The resolution said since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 the
Kremlin had stepped up efforts to “challenge democratic values, divide
Europe, gather domestic support and create the perception of failed states in
the EU’s eastern neighbourhood”.

It added that the Russian government was also funding
political parties in the EU and backing “anti-EU forces” like
far-right parties and populist groups.

The parliament also warned against propaganda from the
Islamic State jihadist group, Al-Qaeda and other non-state actors.

It urged EU nations to do more to counter efforts by IS and
other groups to radicalise young people in Europe.