European Parliament is Sending a Clear Message to the Russians

• 06.10.2015, 15:18
•  Europe,  World

The European Union is in need of a new strategy for its relations with Russia concerning which the European Parliament made a report on the state of EU-Russia relations, spearheaded by EPP Group MEP Gabrielius Landsbergis.

"The European Union adheres to the very clear principles of the rule of law, transparency and self-determination, therefore numerous different formats and initiatives were offered to Russia in order to guide the Russian people towards the path of democracy and reform,'' Landsbergis declared in the official statement of the Group. ''There will be more and tougher sanctions if the international obligations and the Minsk Agreements are not respected by Moscow and if more people die because the guns keep flowing through the unprotected border,'' he added.

The matter is that just a few days ago Moscow’s blacklist was revealed to the European Parliament, banning EU politicians, including 19 MEPs and officials, from entering Russian territory. The President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, acting correspondingly, informed the Russian Ambassador to the EU that insofar as the Russian authorities have failed to ensure the international law and legal obligations, and do not allow the targeted individuals the right of defense and of appeal, he considers that it is quite justified to take appropriate measures in response. According to him this response will be  restriction of free access to Parliament to the Russian Ambassador to the EU and one other named diplomat, assessment of the requests for access by Members of the Duma and the Federation Council on a case-by-case basis and suspension of Parliament's engagement with the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee.

"I am dismayed by reports concerning a Russian blacklist of European politicians and officials which, over and above, includes a large number of prominent and high-ranking Members of the European Parliament. It is unacceptable that this further diminishes mutual trust and hampers any efforts for constructive dialogue to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the current geopolitical crisis,'' earlier noted Schulz on the issue.

Gabrielius Landsbergis, in his turn, stressed ''The Russian blacklist not only disrespects the European Parliament, but it is an insult to the EU as a whole, which bases international cooperation on transparent and peaceful dialogue''.