The sanctions policy is completely misguided, change course immediately!

The European Parliament debated the impact of sanctions against Russia in its plenary session today. In her speech, Fidesz MEP Enikő Győri said that “there is no disagreement that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is unacceptable; however, the sanctions have not brought a solution.” Commenting on the debate, Fidesz MEP András Gyürk said, “It is time for Brussels and the left to finally get out of the sanctions psychosis. If something fails eleven times, it probably won’t succeed for the twelfth time either”. “Instead of sanctions, Brussels should focus on its own tasks: fulfilling its economic, trade and climate neutrality obligations”, added MEP Edina Tóth.

MEP Enikő Győri said that “Europe is paying a heavier price than the aggressor. The price is the serious weakening of Europe’s economy and competitiveness: new dependencies, soaring energy prices, inflation, disruption of supply chains. Russia is hurt, of course, but it is still trading, just not with us, and the war is not over”. The Hungarian MEP called on Brussels to implement “less hypocrisy and more discretion: Let’s not score more own goals with our sanctions policy”.

Commenting on the debate, MEP András Gyürk said that “the European Commission’s original aim with the sanctions was to bring the conflict to an end as soon as possible and to bring the Russian economy to its knees. After eleven sanctions packages, it can be said that the sanctions policy has failed. Western Europe has also seen a record increase in imports of Asian oil products refined from Russian crude oil and Russian LNG. The time has come for Brussels and the left to finally get out of the sanctions psychosis. If something has failed eleven times, it probably won’t succeed for the twelfth. Instead, we need an immediate ceasefire, peace, and the removal of sanctions that harm the European economy”, he said.

After the debate, MEP Edina Tóth stressed that the sanctions introduced did not bring the war to a quick end. “What Brussels is doing — given the increasingly fierce economic and trade competition and our obligations to achieve climate neutrality — is the wrong solution”, she added.