The European Parliament (EP) will approve this Wednesday, in Strasbourg (France), a resolution that recognizes Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism so that Moscow answers for the crimes allegedly committed in Ukraine. The resolution, debated in the October plenary session, It has the approval endorsed by the two largest groups of the EP, the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D).
A Greens/European Free Alliance delegation, including Vice President Terry Reintke (Germany), discussed the EP initiative in kyiv with Deputy Chief of Staff Ihor Zhovkva, the Ukrainian presidency announced in a statement on Saturday.
This behavior of Russia is a direct justification of the need for the European Parliament to adopt a resolution designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism,” Zhovka said, referring to the Russian attacks on Ukraine.
Zhovka highlighted efforts by the Greens/European Free Alliance to “secure strong support for Ukraine” from the European Parliament, including initiatives to investigate and prosecute alleged Russian war crimes, and to create a mechanism for compensation from Russia for damages. caused to the neighboring country.
The resolution, which will be voted on the day nine months after the Russian invasion, is not binding, as well as the resolutions condemning the regime of President Vladimir Putin approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
“By declaring Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, the MEPs want to pave the way for Putin and his government to be held accountable for these crimes before an international court”, the EP said before the November plenary session, which begins on Monday.
The European Union (EU) does not have a legal framework that allows it to declare a State a sponsor of terrorism —as recalled by the European Commissioner for the Interior, the Swedish Ylva Johansson, in the October debate—, unlike the United States. state
The US Department of State currently has the Syria (since 1979), Iran (1984), North Korea (2017) and Cuba (2021) on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
In September, the administration of President Joe Biden announced that it would not include Russia on the list, despite resolutions to that effect passed by both houses of Congress, for fear of “unintended consequences for Ukraine and the world.”
Still in the war in Ukraine, the agenda of the The November session of the EP includes the approval of a loan of 18,000 million euros to kyiv and a discussion on international efforts to prevent a food crisis. MEPs will also discuss the non-acceptance in the EU of passports issued by Russia in illegally occupied areas of Georgia and Ukraine.
Also on the agenda is the approval of the EU budget for 2023, which “aims at greater effectiveness in dealing with the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the recovery process from the pandemic” of covid-19.
Creating a roadmap for digital skills, managing migration flows to Europe, strengthening the presence of women on company boards, human rights in Qatar and protecting essential infrastructure for the EU are other items on the agenda.
The MEPs will also commemorate, on Tuesday, the 70th anniversary of the EP, in an act that will open with some statements by the president of the parliament, the Maltese Roberta Metsola.
Source: Observadora
