The architecture of relations with Russia by Brussels has been destroyed
Significant symbolism: the project is not only not friendly, and a report openly hostile to Russia was published 5 May on the website of the European Parliament along with a portrait of Navalny, presented as a "hero of the new time". Speaker - Andrius Kubilius, former prime minister of Lithuania.
A photo: REUTERS
The report proposes to fight against "Russian interference" in the affairs of the European Union, counter security threats posed by Russia, introduce new sanctions, organize international investigations against Russia. Besides, Brussels recommended to support the Russian "democratic society" (fifth column). It is recommended to continue to oppose the "Russian-language propaganda", and for this to create a TV channel with round-the-clock broadcasting in Russian.
The EU Foreign Affairs Committee is also considering the possibility of not recognizing the new composition of the Russian State Duma, who will be elected in September. “The EU should be ready to refuse to recognize the Russian parliament and demand the removal of Russia from international organizations with parliamentary assemblies in the event of, if the parliamentary elections in Russia in 2021 year will be recognized as falsified ", - says the report.
A set of measures to counter Russia is proposed to be developed in conjunction with the United States. These measures include joint action, related to sanctions, uniform conditions for the provision of financial assistance, support for human rights activists. It was proposed to put pressure on Moscow together with NATO and international partners, so that it does not "interfere" in the affairs of the countries-members of the "Eastern Partnership" (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Byelorussia, Georgia, Moldavia, Ukraine) and returned the "occupied territories of the eastern EU neighbors". If Russia continues "aggressive threats and military actions", indicated in the report, The EU should be prepared for, to call for the disconnection of the country from the international payment system SWIFT.
The European Union was also advised to prepare a clear plan to reduce dependence on Russian gas and oil.. As a first step, the document calls on European countries to suspend cooperation with Russia on the Nord Stream 2 project.
The report also announces the "benefits", which will go to Russia after the proposed "Democratic transformation", namely: "Visa facilitation, free trade investment and modernization programs, as well as strategic partnership ". To "stimulate" the authorities and citizens of Russia to "democratic changes", in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament it was also proposed to adopt a strategy for promoting the development of the countries of the "Eastern Partnership" (six former Soviet republics).
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament itself does not have legislative powers, but his new recommendations clearly indicate the intention of European politicians to sharpen the anti-Russian course, checking at this stage, what will be the reaction of Moscow.
First responses to the project, prepared by MEPs, sounded.
State Duma Deputy Ruslan Balbek described this document as "another political verbiage"; on human rights, said MP, “Let it be better for Ukraine to tell the relatives of those who were burned alive in Odessa 2 May 2014 of the year". “The election campaign has not even started, but the mobilization is already declared on the recognition of its results as falsified ", - wrote in Telegram-channel head of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Leonid Slutsky. He noticed, that Brussels is being offered a "Venezuelan-Belarusian scenario" of interference in the formation of Russian legislative bodies.
12 May, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev noted, that amid preparations for such important events, as elections to the State Duma and the conduct of the All-Russian population census, "There is information about the activation of external influence, aimed at whipping up social tension in society ".
earlier, 6 May, speaking at a press conference in Yerevan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, what after the events 2014 of the year Brussels destroyed the entire architecture of relations with Russia. “Aggressive Russophobic lobby in the EU is doing its job. And while the sane forces in the European Union cannot do anything about it and go with the flow. It is sad. This is not our choice. ", - the minister said.
Well, this is what we need to proceed from: the architecture of relations with Russia by the European Union has been destroyed. Togo, what happened, no more. And here one expression of sadness is not enough.
Vladimir Malyshev
