EU Parl't Backs Resolution Calling Russia State Sponsor Of Terrorism

MEPs have voted in favour of a resolution labelling Russia a 'state sponsor of terrorism', with 494 voting in favour, 58 against and 44 abstaining. The European Parliament has sought to encourage all member states to adopt the same designation.

• At present, only individuals or organisations can be blacklisted by EU sanctions. The Parliament is backing a legal change to allow entire countries to be placed on the sanctions list, in a similar system to that used in the United States. This would hugely restrict the level of interaction on a trade and diplomatic level (already largely cut off) and punish third-party nations engaging in trade with Russia, particularly those supposedly supplying weapons to Moscow (i.e. Iran).
• However, this change would require unanimous approval from EU member states. The prospect of getting perennial holdout Hungary to back such a change at present remains an unlikely prospect.