Euronews EU Correspondent Sándor Zsíros recently interviewed Věra Jourová, Vice President of the European Commission, as part of The Global Conversation – a program by Euronews that serves to directly question world leaders, policy-makers, and key figures from civil society on their views of global issues, potential solutions, and opportunities.
In the interview, Jourová revealed the EU’s strategy to improve its credibility, which includes the introduction of an anti-corruption package and the initiation of a European ethics body.
The ethics body, designed to complement existing internal structures within EU institutions, will aim to establish uniform standards. Comprising representatives from each institution and five independent experts, its primary objective is to enhance transparency across EU institutions.
Jourová also discussed the EU’s plans for potential foreign interference in the upcoming European Parliament elections. The bloc is taking measures to protect elections from covert manipulation and disinformation campaigns.
The European Commission is proposing a ‘Defence of Democracy’ package to fight against foreign influence. Criticism from NGOs, who compared this package to the Russian Foreign Agents Act, has prompted the Commission to consider amendments that emphasize financial transparency.
Lastly, Jourová highlighted the imminent Digital Services Act. The legislation will mandate social media platforms to moderate content, increase fact-checking efforts, and allow researchers enhanced access to data. The execution of these measures demonstrates the EU’s commitment to battling disinformation and boosting institutional transparency.
