Brussels, 28/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 27-28 March, the EU criticised the decision of the Turkish government to block the YouTube video platform, following the uploading of pirate recordings that challenged the government. “This is another desperate and depressing move in Turkey”, said European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes, expressing her “support for all those supporters of real freedom and democracy”. “Freedom of sharing information needs to be respected. Any limitation needs to be proportionate”, said Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle. Kroes and Füle wonder “where will it end, Mr [Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdogan?” In the view of Hannes Swoboda MEP (S&D, Austria), “by blocking YouTube, Erdogan is showing his will to limit individual freedom at all costs. He is damaging strongly Turkey's image”. Guy Verhofstadt MEP (ALDE, Belgium) wondered which site would be the next victim (“Facebook, Google?”). “Blocking the YouTube site is disproportionate and completely useless as people get round the ban”, said Hélène Flautre MEP (Greens/EFA, France). In her opinion, as was the case for Twitter, the blocking of YouTube will be criticised by Turkey's President Abdullah Gül and annulled by the justice system. (CG)