European Union Digest: EU Disinformation Countermeasures, Italy and the United Kingdom

European Union disinformation countermeasures

            The European Union is increasing its measures against disinformation, including against anti-vaccination propaganda.  Populists on both the far left and the far right oppose mandatory vaccinations for various reasons.  The authoritarian Russian Federation regime of Vladimir Putin exploits this opportunity to oppose vaccinations to weaken the West.

Italy 

The populist Italian Government recently sacked a pro-vaccination national health board.  The Government had tried to undermine mandatory vaccinations for school students, but had to retreat from its plan in the face of difficulties in the implementation and criticism from healthcare professionals and international organizations.

            The EU last week encouraged the Italian Government to decide soon on whether to complete the high-speed train from Turin to Lyon, France and warned that the Italian Republic may have to return funds to the EU if it decides not to proceed.  The train is opposed by anarchists, socialists and environmentalists.

            In addition to EU bodies, human rights organizations criticized the Italian Government last week for violating the human rights of migrants.

The EU and Italy continue to negotiate over the budget that exceeds EU rules for spending.

A public opinion survey revealed that Italians are fearful and bitter, which causes many of them to seek an authoritarian.  The more economically distressed they are, the more nationalist and resentful toward migrants and refugees. The migration crisis has caused division between Italy and the EU.

United Kingdom: update on leaving the EU

            The Conservative-led Government of the United Kingdom last week withdrew from Parliament its proposed accord with the European Union for leaving that organization.  Some Tories opposed particularly the provisions in regard to the border between the British Province Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, an EU-member.  However, both the EU and the Government insist that no better agreement can be obtained.  Therefore, there is uncertainty over whether the UK will leave the EU or leave without any agreement on issues such as the movement of people, trade, fisheries and aviation by March, the time when the UK will no longer be part of the EU, with or without any agreement, and also whether the Government may fall and new parliamentary elections be held.  The Prime Minister is attempting to obtain clarifications of the agreement.  

           The Premier survived a confidence vote last week for the Conservative Party leadership after the withdrawal of her agreement with the EU, but she announced that she would not lead the party in the next-scheduled elections.