MEPs again urge to step up pressure on Russia, demand to de-occupy Crimea

This was discussed during the debates dedicated to the fifth anniversary of the illegal occupation of Crimea by Russia in the European Parliament on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

 “We are unwavering in our policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea,” EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said during the debates.

He noted that the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol had negative consequences for the stability of the entire region.

The European Commissioner said that the EU expected Russia to unconditionally release the captured Ukrainian sailors and all Ukrainian political prisoners, including Pavlo Hryb.

Among other cases of violation of the international law by the Russian Federation, Hahn recalled the illegal construction of the Kerch Bridge and harassment of international shipping in the Kerch Strait.

"We will continue to carefully monitor the situation in the Sea of Azov," the representative of the European Commission assured.

Elmar Brok, the member of the largest political group of the European Parliament, the European People’s Party, underscored the urgent need to restore international law in Europe, which had been violated by Russia.

 “We must keep the sanctions regime,” he said.

Ana Gomes, the parliamentarian from the political group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, also noted that Russia had violated not only international law but also encroached on the independence of Ukraine.

“Putin uses every opportunity to encourage wars in neighboring regions, including the Baltic. He is trying to undermine the European Union. Sanctions are not enough,” Gomes is convinced.

A representative of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, Marek Jurek, mentioned in his speech the danger posed to the EU by the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

 “The sanctions, I believe, are somewhat symbolic,” Jurek said.

Member of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Jasenko Selimovic agreed with his colleagues that the EU’s response to Moscow’s aggressive actions was not enough.

“I don’t know: do we need Russian gas, or are we afraid of Russia? I want to ask here a specific question: what will be our reaction if this happens in the EU?” he asked.

MEP from the European Green Party Heidi Hautala highlighted that since the beginning of the occupation of Crimea by Russia, many people on the peninsula had been subjected to reprisals, persecutions, and systematic violations of human rights.

It should be noted that the MEPs harshly criticized National Front member of the European Parliament, Jean-Luc Schaffhauser, who traditionally speaks out in support of the Kremlin’s aggressive policy. The French politician was the only person to support the occupation of Crimea by Russia during the debates.

As reported, the issue of non-recognition of the occupation of Crimea by Russia and the demand to restore Ukraine’s sovereignty over the peninsula has been regularly highlighted in the resolutions and statements of the European Parliament and the EU documents on the whole.

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