European Parliament adopts Renew Europe demands for a Russian energy embargo

The European Parliament has today adopted Renew Europe’s call for an immediate full EU embargo on Russian imports of oil, coal, nuclear fuel and gas. Following our political initiative, the amendment we tabled calling for an embargo passed by 413 votes.

The resolution welcomes the fifth package of sanctions announced by the European Commission, but goes further, calling for increased military support to Ukraine and a total exclusion from SWIFT for Russian banks. The motion reiterates the Parliament’s call to the EU institutions to work towards granting EU candidate status to Ukraine as a clear political signal and for third countries to align themselves with EU sanctions.

Stéphane Séjourné, President of Renew Europe, said:

“The swift adoption of sanctions has shown the unity of the EU and its willingness to defend our common values in the face of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. While others have faltered, the Renew Europe family has led the way in calling for an ambitious response to Putin’s murderous campaign. In the face of heinous crimes against humanity, we call on the EU’s partners around the world to align with our sanctions packages.”

Luis Garicano MEP, Vice - President of Renew Europe and our lead negotiator for the resolution, said:

“Our priority must be to starve Putin’s regime of the resources he needs to fund his despicable war machine and this will only be achieved with a total energy embargo. Instead of propping up Putin’s regime, we must tear it down. It is unacceptable that, instead paying a small price for freedom, we pay for the bullets used in Bucha. If Europe does not do enough, history will not see us as a bystander; history will know we were complicit.”