European Parliament President Roberta Metsola wrote on Twitter yesterday that “Effective immediately, Russian company representatives are no longer allowed to enter European Parliament premises..”
Effective immediately, Russian company representatives are no longer allowed to enter @Europarl_EN premises.
We must not allow them any space to spread their propaganda & false, toxic narratives about the invasion of #Ukraine.
We will remain united & strong against autocrats.
— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) June 2, 2022
“We must not allow them any space to spread their propaganda & false, toxic narratives about the invasion of Ukraine.,” Metsola said.
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Prohibition on the provision of consulting and accounting services
Metsola announced the move at a meeting of the Conference of Presidents on Thursday morning, its spokesman Jüri Laas said. It comes as a diplomatic debate that includes a ban on providing consulting and accounting services to Russia in the sixth package of EU sanctions.
The ban “applies to all entities established in the Russian Federation and listed in the EU Transparency Register,” Laas said, as well as entities subject to EU sanctions.
Metsola also “ordered parliamentary services to investigate other Russian companies whose representatives could spread false information about the war in Ukraine or try to circumvent sanctions imposed at the European level,” he added.
Welcome first step
Parliament also called on the European Commission and the Council to block lobbyists linked to Russia. The Greens / EFA group launched a petition calling for such a ban in parliament earlier this week – it has since been updated to call on Council President Charles Michel to give his support.
Know the reason for Ukraine and Russia war
– These lobbyists still have access to other EU buildings through the EU lobby register. We call on Charles Michel, as President of the Council, to ensure that they are banned from entering all EU premises, according to an updated Green / EFA petition.
Watchdogs warned that focusing on Russian-based companies could limit the scope of the ban.
– This is a welcome first step – said Nicholas Aiossa, Deputy Director and Head of Advocacy Policy at Transparency International EU, who has been calling for restrictions on Russian lobbying since March.
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– But institutions must fully ensure that Russian influence in Brussels now ceases, including law firms, consulting firms, and EU-based associations.
