Gas, oil, coal and nuclear

Some countries, such as Germany and Hungary, are delaying sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the European Parliament is calling for an energy embargo. 27, after six weeks of bombing, ended the ban on the import of Russian coal. But MEPs are calling for an “immediate” halt to not only coal but also oil, gas and nuclear uranium.

“Considering that the Union pays Russia 800 million euros a day for the supply of fossil fuels, which amounts to almost 300,000 million a year,” said a resolution approved by an absolute majority in Strasbourg on Thursday with 513 votes in favor; 22 against and 19 abstained. “This is a very important moment,” said Roberta Metzola, President of the European Parliament, after the announcement of the results, who was greeted by a standing ovation from MEPs.

Thus, the European Parliament “calls for a full and immediate embargo on Russian oil, coal, nuclear fuel and gas imports, the complete abandonment of North Stream 1 and 2 projects, and the submission of a plan.” Continue to ensure the security of the Union’s power supply in the short term.

The MEPs also called for “continued and intensified arms supplies so that Ukraine can effectively defend itself” and “called for further concrete contributions to the immediate strengthening of Ukraine’s defense capabilities”.

The resolution also “calls for an increase in the effectiveness of existing sanctions, in particular, in coordination with like-minded international partners of the Union, by excluding all banks in the Russian Federation from the SWIFT system and banning them from entering territorial waters.” “Ports at Union and Union ports for any vessel flying the Russian flag, registered, chartered or operated, having its origin or destination in the Russian port, or otherwise connected with Russia, including Sovcomflot.”

Similarly, MEPs are calling for “work on a fund similar to the Marshall Plan (Ukraine Solidarity Trust Fund) to rebuild Ukraine after the war, launch a massive investment program and unleash its growth potential.” Parliamentarians believe that “the fund should be generous and funded, among other sources, by the Union, its member states, donor contributions and compensation for war losses by Russia, including Russian assets that were previously inactive and as a result of sanctions.” “Confiscation must be lawful in accordance with international law.”

On the same Saturday, April 9, a donors’ conference is held in Warsaw under the slogan “Stand Up for Ukraine” by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau. President von der Leyen will be joined at the event by Polish President Andrzej Duda, while Prime Minister Trudeau will attend remotely.

The Donors’ Conference is the culmination of a campaign launched on March 27 by the European Commission and the Government of Canada in collaboration with the international organization Global Citizen.

Topic of the day, todaytimeslive.com podcast