Renew Europe Group calls for a united and firm EU response to Russia’s hostile behaviour
Author: Lucian Goleanu
Date:
The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament strongly condemned the involvement of Russian military intelligence (GRU) agents in the explosions that took place in 2014 in the Czech village of Vrbětice, killing two people and called on the Member States to show their solidarity by adopting common measures in response to this attack, such as expelling Russian diplomats.
A resolution on Russia, today debated in plenary, also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Alexei Navalny and of all other persons detained while protesting for his release and it reaffirms the EP’s support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine by calling on Russia to implement, with no further delay, the pull back of its troops from the Ukrainian border.
Speaking in today’s debate, the first Vice-President of Renew Europe Group, Malik Azmani (VVD, The Netherlands), urged the Council to react to Russia’s government attacks and hostile behaviour by extending the EU targeted sanctions regimes to deal with corruption and Russian wealth and investments of unclear origin:
“We witnessed in the recent weeks more of Putin’s outrageous political behaviour. These are not new developments, but just a new act in Putin’s sinister power play. Its sole purpose: the survival of his corrupt regime. We call on the Council to extend the sanctions under the EU Magnitsky Act. We must show Putin that the EU is united in condemnation of his actions.
Renew Europe MEP, Bernard Guetta (Délégation Renaissance, France), shadow rapporteur on Russia, added :
"There is still time, Mr. Putin, to abandon the idea of wanting to scare us because you will only manage to unite the European Union against you and speed up our defence effort.
Give up the evil, try the good and you will see how beneficial it will be for the Russians and their neighbours, for our continent and for the world. Do it Mr. Putin or you will find us on your way."
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