Maroc - EURASIAREVIEW.COM - A la une - 16/Jan 00:11

MEPs In Letter Writing Spree Over Musk’s EU Activism

By icoletta Ionta (EurActiv) -- Lawmakers from across the European Parliament have launched a flurry of initiatives over Elon Musk’s recent actions, with one even proposing him for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, according to documents seen by Euractiv. The European adventures of Musk – the billionaire and consigliere to President-elect Donald Trump – have sparked intense commentary and debate among MEPs. Many are now putting their feelings on Musk in writing, seeking co-signatories for letters that include an invitation to Brussels, a proposal for a debate, and a far-fetched nomination for one of the world's most prestigious prizes. On Tuesday, Greek lawmaker Emmanouil Fragkos, from the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists, circulated a letter addressed to Parliament President Roberta Metsola that called for Musk to address a plenary session. The letter, seen by Euractiv, had been signed by 43 MPs – mostly, but not exclusively, from the Parliament's right-wing and far-right groups. Centre-right European People's Party member Branko Grims and Romanian Socialist Maria Grapini had also signed the letter. Describing him as a “trailblazer in the digital revolution,” the letter framed the invitation as part of efforts to “revitalise Europe’s productivity” and ensure global competitiveness. Meanwhile, S&D lawmaker and foreign affairs committee vice-chair Hana Jalloul Muro penned another letter, to the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas. She expressed alarm over digital platforms’ potential to influence electoral processes within and beyond the EU. The signatories include 45 lawmakers, mostly from the Socialists, Greens, and The Left groups. The letter calls on Kallas to expand EU's foreign policy and sanctions framework to counter foreign interference in electoral processes, as well as for the EU to develop new tools to address emerging threats posed by online platforms like Musk’s X and Musk himself. Adding to the flurry of proposals, Grims, not content merely to sign the Fragkos letter, has also nominated Musk for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. The proposal, addressed to the Norwegian Nobel Committee and seen by Euractiv, is currently in the signature collection phase. Grims writes that Musk deserves the prize for his “outstanding and successful efforts to preserve freedom of speech” linking these efforts to global peace and development. The nomination also lauds Musk for removing “all systemic options for introducing any form of political censorship from X.” As next week’s plenary session approaches, attention also shifts to the political group leaders, who must decide whether to put a debate on Musk on the agenda. A debate has been proposed by the Socialists under the title: “Elon Musk and the abuse of social media – threats to European democracy.” The Conference of Presidents – the Parliament's leadership body – will discuss the proposal on Wednesday evening, with Commission vice-president in charge of regulating Musk's X, Henna Virkkunen, in attendance.