MEPs adopted a resolution on Thursday that called for "an immediate full embargo on Russian imports of oil, coal, nuclear fuel and gas" in light of recently reported atrocities by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine.
The lawmakers are trying to increase the pressure on the European Commission and on member states to impose additional punitive measures as well as to curb their energy reliance on Russia. The proposal was adopted by a large majority, with 513 votes for, 22 against and 19 abstentions.
The Commission announced the fifth package of sanctions on Tuesday, which included a ban on coal, it didn't go further as member states, such as Germany, are dependent on Russia for energy supplies.
On Thursday, MEPs adopted a resolution calling for the EU to go further in its sanctions against Russia following the atrocities uncovered in the towns around Kyiv and demanded increased military aid to support Ukraine.
In addition to a full oil and gas embargo, MEPs insisted that this should be accompanied by a plan to ensure the EU’s security of energy supply.
Member states are set to discuss additional sanctions this week, yet the embargo may not be an easy sell. Hungary’s re-elected Prime Minister Viktor Orbán drew a "red line" concerning oil and gas on Wednesday and said he would be blocking sanctions, according to Euronews.
'Not business as usual'
MEPs also stressed that existing sanctions must be "fully implemented across the union" and for Russia to be excluded from the G20 and other international organisations, such as UNHRC, Interpol, the World Trade Organisation, and UNESCO, which they said "would be an important sign that the international community will not return to business as usual with the aggressor state."
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The Parliament also called for Russian banks to be excluded from the SWIFT system, for all vessels connected to Russia to be banned from entering EU territorial waters and docking at EU ports and for road freight transport from and to Russia and Belarus to be prohibited.
Finally, MEPs argued that sanctions on Belarus should mirror those introduced against Russia, pointing to Belarus’ involvement in the war in Ukraine.
