The European Parliament has called on Brussels to attach more strings to
the South Stream pipeline project.
A majority of MEPs believes new criteria should be introduced, helping Russia
to avoid further sanctions, and agreements in the field of energy which are
currently in force should be reversed.
According to a newly adopted resolution, the EU should also look into options
to freeze its partnership with the Russian Federation on the "Atoms for
Peace" program.
The text called "On the situation in Ukraine and the state of play of
EU-Russia relations" includes the proposal that the concept of
"strategic partnership" with Russia be abandoned.
A new mechanism should be elaborated preventing Russian entities from going
around currently existing bans and restrictions and loopholes in EU rules, MEPs
have agreed.
Moscow has already downplayed the impact of the resolution, which is not
politically binding.
The Parliament has welcomed signs of normalization following peace efforts in Ukraine's
Donbass region, but has voiced concerns over Russia's intentions in the light
of what some MEPs described as "hybrid war".
Brussels should also boost its support for agricultural producers in
retaliation to Russia's food embargo, the EU Parliament also believes.
Fyodor Lukyanov, Chairman of the Presidium of Russia's Council for Foreign and
Defense Policy, retorted on Thursday the document"cannot be
fulfilled", as ITAR-TASS quoted him as saying.
"The European Parliament can say whatever it wants while the European Council
and the European Commission will act as they deem necessary.”
In Lukyanov's view, the resolution throws all the blame for the current
situation in Ukraine on Russia.
