The three institutions of the European Union have banned the representatives of Russian interests (lobbyists) in Brussels from accessing their premises in the context of the sanctions imposed on Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine.
The European Parliament was the first to impose the ban. “From now on, representatives of Russian companies no longer have permission to enter the premises of the European Parliament,” President Roberta Metsola said in early June.
“We must not leave them any room to spread their propaganda and their false and toxic stories about the invasion of Ukraine,” he said.
The European Council and the European Commission followed the adoption of the decision “not to accept persons representing Russian interests”, their representatives confirmed shortly before the start of the European summit in support of Ukraine. European leaders are expected to renew sanctions against Russia imposed after the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
The decision to exclude Russian lobbyists was taken during a meeting of EU member states’ ambassadors on 15 June. A representative of the Commission confirmed that the Commission is following the same line.
The decision concerns the representatives of Russian interests registered in the transparency archive of the Union to have access to the premises of the European institutions so that they can meet with commissioners, their associates and MEPs.
The archive is a “database containing organizations seeking to influence the legislative and policy implementation process of the European institutions”. “It shows the interests in favor of which action has been taken, by whom and with what budget.”
The decision is part of the implementation of the sixth package of sanctions adopted by the European Union and prohibits the provision of any business consulting or public relations services.
Russian diplomats, government officials and businessmen can not use facilities or entry permits to enter the European Union. But the citizens of the European Union representing the interests of their Russian clients have so far been able to continue their activities in the European institutions.
SOURCE: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
Source: Capital
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