DISINFO: EU’s disintegration is close due to its anti-Russia sanctions
SUMMARY
US and “global Britain” external governance over the EU and putting economic interests of corporations over national sovereignty is foreseen for the EU's future. The EU sanctions targeting Russia harmed the EU in the first place, while Russia successfully overcame the sanction barriers. The EU's economy is now facing a significant stress test, and the disintegration of the EU is becoming increasingly probable.
RESPONSE
Recurring disinformation narratives about the alleged disintegration of the EU, the EU’s lost sovereignty and about backfiring Western sanctions on Russia. The narrative of "the imminent collapse" is a Kremlin classic - see here.
Following the launch of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Council has adopted 11 packages of sanctions against Russia and Belarus as of October 2023. These restrictions are aimed at weakening Russia’s ability to finance the war and specifically target the political, military and economic elite responsible for the invasion. By imposing sanctions on Russia, the EU aims to send a strong signal of resolve and unity to the Kremlin, degrade Russia’s ability to wage war, and slowly asphyxiate the Russian economy, in particular the country’s energy sector. When judged on the basis of these criteria, sanctions are clearly working.
Pro-Kremlin outlets often portray European states as vassals, puppet states or colonies of the US and NATO. See our analysis of the Kremlin's claims about the EU's lost sovereignty. The European Union was created by the European Member States, who determine the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy. EU Member States are sovereign countries and make sovereign decisions about their own internal, economic, foreign and security policies. The European Union is explicit on the subject of national sovereignty: “the Member States all remain sovereign and independent states, they have decided to pool some of their 'sovereignty' in areas where it makes sense to work together.”
Finally, the article in question exaggerates the extent of problems faced by the EU’s economy. According to the European Commission's Summer 2023 Economic Forecast, in 2023, an economic growth of 0.8% is expected in the EU. Pro-Kremlin outlets frequently forecast the imminent collapse of western economies.
See earlier examples: The war in Ukraine is a US tool to hide the financial catastrophe; EU’s economy is crumbling as a result of anti-Russian sanctions; Anti-Russia sanctions are resulting in US default.