Germany & France Forge Media Alliance to Fight Disinformation
Summary: Germany and France have agreed to deepen media cooperation and explore a new alliance against disinformation, with public broadcasters ARTE and Deutsche Welle reportedly involved. Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer said the move aims to strengthen Europe’s democratic stability and protect cultural autonomy.
Original (German) – translated to English
“Deutschland und Frankreich wollen ihre Zusammenarbeit im Medienbereich vertiefen und haben dazu im Rahmen des Deutsch-Französischen Ministerrats in Toulon eine Vereinbarung geschlossen, die eine neue Allianz gegen Desinformation entstehen lassen soll. Kulturstaatsminister Wolfram Weimer erklärte, dass damit die demokratische Stabilität Europas gestärkt und die kulturelle Eigenständigkeit gesichert werden solle.”
Translation: “Germany and France want to deepen their cooperation in the media sector and have concluded an agreement within the framework of the Franco-German Ministerial Council in Toulon to create a new alliance against disinformation. Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer stated that this would strengthen Europe’s democratic stability and secure cultural independence.”
Context & Sources
Several outlets report that Paris and Berlin intend to bolster ARTE and other European media efforts to counter disinformation and amplify European perspectives. For reporting on the ARTE initiative, see:
- Brussels Times – Germany & France want to make ARTE a continental television channel
- Euractiv – Shared tech agenda and joint projects
Note: Direct, detailed official releases about a specific “Toulon” agreement naming Deutsche Welle and ARTE as a formal alliance were not widely available at the time of posting; reports describe plans to strengthen cross-border public media cooperation that would include ARTE. Readers are encouraged to consult the linked coverage for the latest official statements.
Discussion
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