00:00try to destabilize our societies.
00:03At the same time, some of the biggest digital platforms provide the infrastructure so these
00:14campaigns can spread and it's clear that they are not taking enough responsibility.
00:22This is a very dangerous cocktail.
00:26When foreign interference meets algorithms designed to maximize engagement, polarization
00:36and outrage, the result can be quite powerful.
00:43This report is not about regulating political opinions.
00:48Believe me, I come from Sweden.
00:53Protect them of freedom of expression is in our DNA.
00:59This report is about protecting democracy from foreign interference and it's also setting
01:07a new red line when it comes to freedom of expression.
01:12We make clear that Russian bots are not free speech.
01:18Foreign interference is not free speech.
01:21And manipulating our elections is certainly not free speech.
01:28Madam President, we also have political forces within Europe, whether they realize it or not,
01:38that are making the job of our enemies easier.
01:44Parts of the far right has made distrust in our democratic institution a key part of its message,
01:54portraying them as corrupt, out of touch or not to be trusted.
01:58At the same time we see, and I'm still quite surprised by this, that they sometimes can see Russia as
02:07an ally against the so-called European establishment.
02:12And this is something that actually should concern all of us.
02:17Because when political forces try to weaken democratic institutions from within, aligning themselves deliberately or not,
02:29with the interest of hostile foreign power, they are playing a very dangerous game.
02:36Madam President, the European Democracy Shield is extremely important for Europe.
02:42I'm very thankful for the work that we have done together in the pro-European groups.
02:48We are with this report now sending a very clear message.
02:52We want a stronger European democracy shield.
02:56And we are ready to do what it can.
02:59But what we need.
03:01Because we need to protect Europe.
03:03We need to protect our democracy.
03:07Thank you, President, colleagues.
03:09Let me conclude with one simple point.
03:14The threats to our democracies are not going away.
03:18Russia will continue to test our resilience.
03:23Other hostile actors will continue to look for weaknesses.
03:28And technology will continue to give them ways to exploit divisions in our societies.
03:36We must be better prepared.
03:40We need the political will to protect our election.
03:45We need the capacity to identify foreign interference.
03:51We need to protect critical infrastructure and strengthen corporations in member states.
03:57And perhaps above all, we need to protect the trust in our democratic institutions.
04:05I hear during the debate today that we are talking about freedom of expression.
04:12And let me be very clear.
04:14We shall have a vibrant political debate all over Europe like we have just had in this plenary today.
04:24But let me be very clear.
04:27Russian troll factories, Russian bots are not free speech.
04:37And the far right needs to answer the question.
04:42Why is it so important to protect these Russian troll factories and bots?
04:49They are designed to try to influence Europe.
04:52It is extremely important that we remain open, but not naive.
04:58We must remain democratic, but not defenseless.
05:02So let's make sure now that European democracy is not only worth defending,
05:08but it should also be strong enough to defend itself.
05:12Thank you to all the pro-European groups.
05:15Today we send a clear signal.
05:17We will protect European democracy.
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