EU Parliament calls for sanctions against ex-Chancellor Schröder
Created: 05/19/2022, 13:08
By: Christian Stör
Former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
(Archive photo) © Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Gerhard Schröder's connection to Russia also calls the EU into action.
Brussels – The European Parliament has voted in favor of EU sanctions against ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder by a large majority.
The reason is the ongoing activity of the SPD politician for Russian state companies such as the energy company Rosneft, according to a resolution passed in Brussels on Thursday.
Parliament's step is likely to increase the pressure on the responsible EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Foreign Affairs Commissioner, Josep Borrell, to submit a proposal for Schröder's inclusion on the EU sanctions list.
If this is then accepted, Schröder's existing assets in the EU could be frozen.
Gerhard Schröder: SPD leadership demands exit from the party
Schröder was Chancellor from 1998 to 2005.
He then took on tasks for the pipeline company Nord Stream, Russia's Gazprom and the energy company Rosneft, among others.
Because he did not distance himself from this after the start of the Russian war against Ukraine, the SPD leadership asked him to leave the party.
There are also motions for expulsion from the party.
The traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP also wants to cut the 78-year-old's office and employees.
The Budget Committee of the Bundestag probably wanted to vote on Thursday.
The text of the European Parliament now calls on the EU states to “extend the list of people subject to EU sanctions to European board members of large Russian companies and politicians who continue to receive money from Russia “.
Parliament named former EU heads of government such as Wolfgang Bowl (Austria) and François Fillon (France), who recently resigned from their posts at Russian companies.
They demand "emphatically that other politicians, such as Karin Kneissl and Gerhard Schröder, do the same".
Kneissl is a non-party former foreign minister of Austria and a member of the Rosneft supervisory board.
(dpa)