European Union

When reporting yesterday on the abrupt deterioration in European-Turkish relations, in which the European Parliament voted Thursday in an overhwleming majority to impose a temporary, non-binding freeze on talks for Turkey's accession into the EU, we said that it "remains unclear if Turkey will proceed with releasing the nearly three million Syrian refugees allegedly contained within its borders as a result of the European Parliament vote." Today we have an answer: as the FT reports, Turkish president Erdogan warned Brussels on Friday he would allow 3 million refugees to cross over to Europe

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a statement following comments made by European MEPs declaring a state of “war” against Russia.  MEPs in Strasbourg voted on a non-legislative resolution demanding that the EU “respond to information warfare by Russia“.

Turkish leaders are ‘furious’ after European MPs voted to block Turkey from joining the EU after President Erdogan’s tyrannical crackdown on dissidents.  The European Parliament voted to suspend Turkey’s EU membership bid after Erdogan began rounding up anti-government citizens following the failed attempted coup in July. Erdogan has dismissed the non-binding vote as “worthless” and accused the EU of supporting terrorists in response to their vote. BBC News reports: Turkey’s EU accession talks began in 2005, but only one of the 35 policy areas – called “chapters” – has been closed.

Submitted by Tom Luego via PlanetFreeWeil.com,

The EU Parliament has approved a Polish MP’s bill to counter Russian news sources’ “propaganda.”  Among those listed are RT and Sputnik news agency.  This is yet another example of push-back from Western elites over the loss of the U.S. presidency and potential thawing of Russian / European relations under a Trump administration.

The vote passed with less than a majority of the EU Parliament’s 691 members, thanks to 208 abstentions.  The bill garnered only 304 votes.

The EU Parliament has approved a resolution to counter ‘propaganda’ by Russian media. On Wednesday, MEPs in Strasbourg voted on a non-legislative resolution which calls for the EU to “respond to information warfare” by Russia as well as ISIS, Al-Qaeda and other violent jihadi terrorist groups. The Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik news agencies are alleged to be among the most dangerous “tools of Russian propaganda.” The Sputnik press service said the move was a direct violation of media freedom and human rights and warned the bloc against allowing state censorship.