CNN Prima News | Myths about the European Union: How disinformation threatens our values and how to counter it?

Many myths, hoaxes, and lies circulate about the European Union. Despite the spread of this information, decisions in Brussels are not made "about us without us," and the European Union does not plan to ban curved cucumbers and bananas. Why, then, do these disinformations spread? And how can we prevent them? Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, comments for CNN Prima News.

In general, I see an effort in such topics to create the impression that some threat to our way of life and values is coming from the West. Claims that the EU is trying to ban the terms "mom" and "dad," eating meat, and replacing it with insects are obvious nonsense. The vast majority of people would say there can be no truth to it. But when such claims are repeated often and consistently, they plant a seed of doubt. And that is precisely the goal of disinformation campaigns – to undermine established certainties and create doubt about our pro-Western orientation.

You can listen to the full commentary here from the 23rd minute.

Viktor Daněk
Deputy Director

Before entering the NGO sphere, Viktor Daněk worked for almost ten years as a journalist. During his time with the public service Czech radio, he focused mainly on covering EU affairs. He spent almost five years as a permanent correspondent in Brussels, where he cooperated with other media outlets. Before his career in journalism, he gained experience in the area of marketing and communication in the Česká spořitelna banking group and at the Czech Technical University in Prague. He holds university degrees in Media Studies and International Relations. Viktor Daněk joined the EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy in October 2023. He continues to be active in the media as a freelancer. His main areas of interest are institutional questions of European integration, globalisation and the EU’s climate and migration policy.