The European Parliament demanded that the EC reconsider the ban on Russian cars

European MPs are calling for tougher sanctions against Russia, but they see “discrediting” flaws in the existing sanctions regime, which relate to the confiscation of personal items from Russians entering the EU

The European Parliament in its resolution called on EU countries not to confiscate personal belongings and cars of Russians, since “this would discredit the purpose and instrument of the sanctions.”

In the adopted resolution, MEPs call for tougher sanctions against Russia, but draw attention to the shortcomings of the sanctions regime.

“[The European Parliament] calls on the European Commission to reconsider its interpretation of sanctions leading to the seizure and confiscation of items and vehicles for personal use only; emphasizes that such excessive compliance discredits the purpose and instrument of sanctions,” the resolution says ( quoted by TASS ).

RBC sent a request to the European Commission.

On September 8 , the European Commission clarified the rules for applying existing sanctions. They stated that entry into the EU countries with personal cars registered in Russia would be regarded as prohibited import , even if they are used for personal purposes and not for commercial purposes. Exceptions were made only for EU citizens and their immediate relatives.

In mid-September, the European Commission explained the introduction of such measures by saying that Russian cars could be used to circumvent sanctions. Each country will independently determine how to implement the restriction, since the clarification is not legally binding, the department clarified to RBC.

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Russia shares a land border with five countries that are members of the European Union - Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. There is also a common land border with Norway - the kingdom is not part of the EU, but participates in the Schengen Agreement. All these states, including Bulgaria, reported a ban on the entry of Russian cars.

Several Russians had their cars confiscated in Germany in the summer; German authorities promised not to make exceptions to the sanctions. However, in July, the first Russian managed to return his car.

The Kremlin called such sanctions absurd. “We must do what is best for us. “Not every time it can be a mirror reaction,” said presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov . The embassy in Latvia described the situation as “state racketeering.”