Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.
Qatari PM: We must not surrender to the arrogance of extremists and pursue our quest for a 'two-state solution'

Freedom of speech 'gone and it won’t come back': former Austrian FM

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 7 Jun 2024 18:05
  • 5 Shares
3 Min Read

Europe was once "a dreamland," the former top diplomat said, due to its "constitutionalism, freedom, equality of women and men, security and welfare state."

Listen
  • x
  • Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl gestures during a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov following their talks in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (AP)
    Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl gestures during a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov following their talks in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, March 12, 2019 (AP)

At a panel discussion hosted by RT at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Friday, former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl expressed grave concerns over the disappearance of fundamental liberties in Europe.

Kneissl, who served as Austria's Foreign Minister from 2017 to 2019, lamented the loss of freedoms such as freedom of speech, equality before the law, and constitutionalism, which she described as integral to Europe's identity.

Europe was once "a dreamland," the former top diplomat said, due to its "constitutionalism, freedom, equality of women and men, security and welfare state."

"Well, sorry to say, but all that is gone… what Europe was is gone, and I deplore it," she added.

The continent "has lost its soul… it has sold its soul."

Read more: Russia calls out EU's violation of freedom of speech, media

Related News

Russian drones in airspace were 'duds': Polish FM

Russia boasts military might with Zircon hypersonic missiles, bombers

"The essence of Europe once upon a time was freedom, and equality in front of the court systems. I haven’t seen it. Freedom of speech – it’s gone and it won’t come back so quickly. It will take some time… this is for me the most traumatic aspect," Kneissl said.

The EU "might overcome an energy crisis and economic recession, all that can be overdone," but the loss of those democratic liberties "cannot be overcome, at least for one, two or three, or more generations," the head of Center G.O.R.K.I. (Geopolitical Observatory for Russia’s Key Issues) at St. Petersburg University warned.

RT organized a panel discussion entitled 'Has the West Succeeded in Vilifying Russia?' as a component of the 2024 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The lineup of speakers was notable, comprising former UN Special Commission weapons inspector Scott Ritter, who faced challenges from US authorities preventing his participation, alongside Tara Reade, a former aide to Joe Biden, and Alexander von Bismarck, the great nephew of Otto von Bismarck.

Read more: UNESCO awards World Press Freedom prize to Palestinian journalists

In late May, the Council of the European Union announced its decision to suspend the broadcasting activities of four Russia-associated media outlets within the EU, namely Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta, citing their alleged role in spreading and supporting "Russian propaganda" and "aggression against Ukraine."

Commenting on the ban, Russia’s State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin called out the EU for censoring alternative opinions and restricting freedom of speech to deceive citizens. 

"The Council today decided to suspend the broadcasting activities in the EU of four additional media outlets, which spread and support the Russian propaganda and war of aggression against Ukraine: Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta," the council wrote in a document.

On Telegram, Volodin called the move a sign of the EU “to close access to objective and reliable information” for residents of member states, adding, “the policy of double standards has become an integral part of European structures” as they only “talk about freedom of speech, but do not tolerate it in reality”.

  • Russia
  • Freedom of Speech
  • Democracy
  • Austria
  • European Union
  • Karin Kneissl

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Elon Musk attends a news conference with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

Elon Musk calls for dissolving UK parliament at London far-right rally

Israeli media: US betrayed Qatar, gave green light for attack on Hamas
Politics

Israeli media: US betrayed Qatar, gave green light for attack on Hamas

Leaked memo shows Trump eyeing Louisiana National Guard plan
Politics

Leaked memo shows Trump eyeing Louisiana National Guard plan

Mamdani vows to arrest Netanyahu if elected New York mayor
Politics

Mamdani vows to arrest Netanyahu if elected New York mayor

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS