Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-003079/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Isabella Tovaglieri (PfE)
The Commission said that Putin’s Russia may have been behind the motion of censure against President von der Leyen. According to Commission spokesperson Thomas Reigner, the motion was part of Moscow’s plans, and independent fact-checkers have confirmed that fact[1].
One of the fact-checkers that the Commission explicitly refers to is Check First. However, that company appears to receive direct funding from the European Union, which is also visible on their page[2].
Specifically, it is receiving EU funds for the Crossover and OKSA projects[3], financed by means of EU funds, and is part of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network, which is also co-financed through EU programmes to fight disinformation[4].
In the light of the above:
- 1.What is the exact amount of EU funds received by Check First through calls or financing?
- 2.Give its participation in the aforementioned EU programmes, can this company be regarded as an ‘independent’ fact-checker when it comes to judging a political entity (including the EU)?
Submitted: 24.7.2025
- [1] https://europa.today.it/unione-europea/mosca-dietro-mozione-sfiducia-von-der-leyen.html.
- [2] https://checkfirst.network/about-us/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
- [3] https://checkfirst.network/2-years-of-checkfirst/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
- [4] https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-launches-eu5-million-call-strengthen-european-fact-checking-network-2025-05-27_en?utm_source=chatgpt.com.