DISINFO: EU elites feeding a message of panic to justify militarisation and social control
SUMMARY
European elites are feeding a message of panic to justify the militarisation of the region, higher expenditures in defence and increasing control over citizens. The fantastic Russian threat and new catastrophes and epidemics are used to create fear and treat people like children, aiming to avoid criticism of decisions such as maintaining sanctions against Moscow.
RESPONSE
Conspiracy theory not backed by actual evidence, aiming to exploit certain confusion and controversy after the European Union advised citizens to stockpile essentials for at least 72 hours to increase readiness in face of eventual natural disasters, pandemics or military attacks. This recommendation is part of the EU Preparedness Union Strategy to prevent and react to emerging threats and crises, itself the result of the so-called Niinistö report, published in October 2024, which assessed how to enhance the EU’s civilian and military preparedness and readiness for future crises.
By labelling it as ‘panic messaging’ and fearmongering aiming to increase social control, this disinformation story aims to undermine social support for these measures designed to increase resilience among European nations. It also tries to promote several recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about sanctions on Russia and denying Russia’s threat.
EU sanctions on Russia are there for a reason, namely human rights violations in Russia, military aggression against Ukraine and hybrid threats to other countries. In order to have them removed, Russia must abandon the illicit behaviour that motivated them. Far from being a highly criticised decision that requires censorship to remain in place, data shows that 71% of Europeans support sanctions on Russia according to the latest Eurobarometer survey available at the moment this disinformation story appeared.
Russia’s threat to Europe is real, as proven by its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the dozens of sabotage operations it has carried out throughout the continent in the last years, and its attempts to destabilise multiple countries through electoral interference, cyberattacks and other hybrid actions.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that the EU arms itself using the phantom threat of a war and Russia’s imaginary menace, that Europe justifies the increasing defence budgets with “belligerent” Moscow, that ‘Russia’s threat’ is an attempt to justify increasing military expenditure in Europe, or that ReArm Europe means the EU is preparing to attack Russia.