Mislav Kolakušić is a Croatian lawyer and politician. He has been a Member of the European Parliament for Croatia since 2 July 2019. Mislav has been elected to the position at the 2019 election as an Independent. Previously, he acted as a judge at the Zagreb Commercial Court. There are concerns that he is a Pro-Chinese MEP
He has endorsed closer EU-China ties. He criticised what he perceives as Western interference in China’s internal affairs. MEP has also supported China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Kolakušić’s stance on these issues has gained support and sympathy in public opinion. Some have smelled a tendency towards radical and authoritarian solutions in his practice.
Beijing’s influence in the European Parliament has been growing over time. In 2017-2018 report notes that many Chinese were focused on “setting up contacts with European institutions and political parties” to get access to information. It found “numerous Chinese activities in Belgium” aimed at “acquiring prior knowledge about decisions, strategic plans and political statements that can impact China,” the report said, without describing the activities. Chinese intelligence “tries, through all kinds of ways, to influence European policymakers, hoping they will take a pro-China stance,” the report notes.
His backing for China’s position on internal affairs and the Belt and Road Initiative aligns with the Chinese government’s positions. The Belt and Road Initiative, launched in 2013, is China’s significant foreign policy program. It involves the investment of billions of dollars in infrastructure in numerous countries to create new markets for Chinese companies and strengthen China’s geopolitical influence.
Additionally, China has consistently opposed interference in its internal affairs and has received support from many countries.
In meeting of the European Political community took place in Granada, Spain. Croatian MEP Mislav Kolakušić took a major dig at Western media firms like CNN, Reuters, Associated Press and Deutsche Welle by asking to declare them as terrorist organisations. He further stated that these media fanatics and media Taliban spread an enormous amount of fake news and hatred.
The situation sounds quite similar to the recent raids that occurred at the NewsClick office and journalists’ homes who are accused of using Chinese funding to further the anti-India narrative and peddle Chinese propaganda
