SPÖ MEP Andreas Schieder sees assistance for attacked EU countries as an obligation and compatible with neutrality. In the Ukraine crisis, he warns of further damage to domestic foreign policy.
On the fringes of the last EU summit, you expressed optimism that the sanctions against Russia would have an effect. How united are the EU countries?
Unfortunately not enough. The sanctions still have loopholes. There are still Russian banks that are not under an embargo. There are individual areas, such as technology and high technology, in which an embargo should have been effective long ago. Especially where this is also used for war material. For example diamonds: the diamond trade in Antwerp has close ties to Russia. He offers the opportunity to transport a lot of money in small stones. And I have the feeling that every member country is trying not to take the sanctions very seriously in certain areas. Why are oligarchs in Austria still unmolested with their assets?
Austria has blocked an oil and gas boycott. Do you understand?
There is an urgent need for tough measures to be taken in this area as well. Russia gets most of its energy income from oil exports. An immediate oil embargo is urgently needed. There are two other areas that we need to look at in detail: raw materials needed for nuclear energy and gas. With gas, we need to quickly look for alternatives and develop a mid-term exit plan. It will not be possible to organize this in the short term. I understand that too. What I have no sympathy for is if we carry on as before.
Do you think an immediate oil embargo is possible?