The need for a new ban to prevent international corporations and sportspeople from operating in Russia

Question for written answer  E-003177/2022
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 138
Ivan Štefanec (PPE), Petras Auštrevičius (Renew), Peter Pollák (PPE), Andrey Kovatchev (PPE), Miriam Lexmann (PPE), Andrus Ansip (Renew), Tomáš Zdechovský (PPE), Eugen Jurzyca (ECR), Vladimír Bilčík (PPE), Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová (Renew)

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has now been going on for more than six months, resulting in many lives lost, uncertainty and economic crisis. The EU has already adopted seven packages of sanctions. We know that many companies or public figures who have condemned the violence came to a voluntary decision to stop doing business in Russia.

However, some international corporations and sportspeople are still ignoring this inhumane situation for their own benefit. We believe that this position undermines our joint efforts and creates a double standard for many of those affected.

In view of these circumstances:

• 1.Is the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) preparing any measures to ban EU companies from starting up new business in Russia?
• 2.Is the VP/HR planning to adopt any restrictions on EU citizens that have contracts in Russia?
• 3.Are there any plans to launch a communications strategy with prominent figures (e.g. sportspeople) so as to highlight their decision to leave Russia due to the unacceptable violence?