EU Parliament adopts resolution against EU citizens in Russian firms

The European Parliament adopted a resolution, on Thursday, demanding that former EU politicians resign from positions in Russian enterprises and urging the European Commission to sanction EU citizens in positions of leadership in Russian entities or receiving money from Russia.

"[The European Parliament] notes that former politicians such as Esko Aho, Francois Fillon, and Wolfgang Schussel have recently resigned from their positions in Russian firms and strongly demands that others, such as Karin Kneissl and Gerhard Schroder, do the same; further calls on the Council to extend the list of individuals targeted by EU sanctions to the European members of the boards of major Russian companies and to politicians who continue to receive Russian money," the text of the resolution read.

This comes in concurrence with the European Parliament which is set to call for former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to be blacklisted if he does not resign as a board member of Russia's state-owned oil company Rosneft.

The proposal puts significant pressure on the EU to take action against Europeans perceived to be close to Russia.

It is worth mentioning that the resolutions of the European Parliament on foreign policy issues are not binding on other EU institutions. However, EU institutions must be open to European legislators.

As part of sanctions against Russia, the EU has agreed to freeze the assets of hundreds of oligarchs and officials linked to Moscow but has refrained from directly targeting Europeans with top jobs at Russian firms.