Juncker vows to fight ‘fake news’ before European elections

Tuesday, 23 April 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

BERLIN, AFP: EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has reportedly vowed to crack down on any ‘fake news’ in the build up to next month’s European election campaigns.

“If governments make claims about the EU or the commission, which do not correspond to the truth, then we will respond,” Juncker said in an interview appearing in Tuesday’s edition of newspapers owned by Germany’s Funke media group.

“I will do this myself in the coming weeks before the election.” Juncker, the commission’s president, vigorously warned against manipulation attempts to sway voters – even from EU member states.

“I have already see attempts to influence the election of the European Parliament by manipulation, which comes from several corners, not only from outside the EU,” he added.

“States within the Union are also trying to steer the electorate’s will in a certain direction with fake news.

“The commission is prepared to fight it all off.” Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been a vocal critic of Juncker, holding the EU chief responsible for allowing the UK to potentially fracture the Union once the UK finally sees Brexit through.