Also for Schroeder? – EU now threatens Kneissl with possible sanctions

The further tightening of existing sanctions is intended to increase pressure on former European politicians who continue to work for Russian energy companies. In a motion for a resolution quoted by the media, the EU parliament calls on Schröder and Kneissl to step down from their positions in Russian companies. Otherwise, the EU Parliament will call for sanctions against them.

Member States have final decision
According to the draft text, “European board members of major Russian companies and politicians who continue to receive Russian funds” should be placed on the EU sanctions list, according to the AFP. According to the draft, the planned resolution will be supported by a broad alliance of conservatives, liberals and greens, as well as social democrats in the EU parliament.

However, the vote is not binding on the EU countries. The member countries are in charge when it comes to sanctions against Russia. Voting starts at 12:00 noon.

Schröder maintains connection with Putin
Schröder is considered an old friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin and is chairman of the supervisory board of Russian state energy company Rosneft. He was also one of the key figures behind Germany’s controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline, for which he lobbied heavily in Berlin.

Kneissl already on the “blacklist”
Kneissl, who was nominated by the FPÖ as foreign minister in December 2017, also sits on Rosneft’s supervisory board. Her personal ties to Putin are known for his appearance at her 2018 wedding in Styria.

The former top politician has long been a thorn in the side of the EU: only in March was she “blacklisted” for disinformation, targeted destabilization of Western democracies and influence from abroad. Meanwhile, Kneissl explained that her life had “already been destroyed.”