The EU Parliament is calling on Germany’s former chancellor and Austria’s former foreign minister to step down from their positions in Russian state-owned companies. Otherwise, sanctions would be imposed on them.
The EU Parliament is increasing pressure on former European politicians who continue to work for Russian energy companies, including former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl. In a draft resolution cited by the media, the EU Parliament urges Schröder and Kneissl to step down from their posts at Russian companies. Otherwise, the EU Parliament calls for sanctions against them.
According to the draft text, “European board members of major Russian companies and politicians who continue to receive Russian funds” should be on the EU sanctions list, according to AFP. According to the draft, the planned resolution is supported by a broad alliance of Conservatives, Liberals and Greens, as well as Social Democrats in the EU Parliament. However, the vote is not binding on EU countries. Member countries call the shots when it comes to sanctions against Russia. Voting is scheduled to begin at 12pm.
Schröder is considered a longtime friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin and is chairman of the supervisory board of Russian state energy company Rosneft. He was also one of the key minds behind Germany’s controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline, for which he pushed hard in Berlin.
Kneissl, who was appointed foreign minister by the FPÖ in December 2017, also sits on Rosneft’s supervisory board. His personal ties to Putin are noted for his appearance at his 2018 wedding in Styria.
(APA)