The European Commission has warned of an alleged Kremlin-backed disinformation campaign aimed at undermining its agricultural policies.
According to Commission sources, cited by Spanish publication El Debate, Russia has sought to amplify opposition to controversial measures such as the European Union’s trade agreement with the South American Mercosur bloc and planned reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy.
Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen previously urged Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen to actively counter misleading narratives and communicate the benefits of EU policy more clearly.
Brussels insists that imports under the Mercosur deal will meet strict EU standards, with safeguards triggered if volumes rise sharply or prices undercut domestic markets.
However, many farmers—who have been organising protests over the past few years—remain unconvinced, citing concerns over uneven regulations and past cases—such as tomato imports from Morocco—where protections were seen to fall short.
The Commission has now established a dedicated unit to tackle disinformation, pointing to Russian president Vladimir Putin as a central actor in spreading false claims.
This is yet another example of Brussels blaming Russia for European citizens’ discontent over EU policy. For many in Europe’s farming sector, opposition stems from genuine economic fears, not disinformation spread by foreign powers.
