site.btaSocialists Demand Reestablishment of Contacts between EU, Russian Parliaments

Socialists Demand Reestablishment of Contacts between EU, Russian Parliaments

Sofia, December 8 (BTA) - MPs from the socialist BSP-Left Bulgaria parliamentary group have submitted a draft resolution for encouraging the inter-parliamentary dialogue and cooperation between the European Union and the Russian Federation, said BSP's press centre on Tuesday.

The socialists propose that Parliament delegates Bulgaria's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to present to the European Council and the EU Foreign Affairs Council a proposal for removing all parliamentarians from the European sanctions lists and negotiating a reciprocal action on behalf of Russia.

The draft resolution, signed by BSP-Left Bulgaria's Chair Mihail Mikov, notes that the National Assembly is declaring its support for enhancing the contacts between the EU's and the Russian Federation's legislative bodies with the goal of normalizing relations. It is further noted that the Bulgarian Parliament finds the introduction of bans on the free movement of parliamentarians by the Executive, on a national and European level, to be inexpedient. According to the Socialists, this contradicts the rules of democracy, which is why they insist that such measures no longer be applied in the future.

BSP-Left Bulgaria's reasoning for their initiative are the growing terrorist threats for the EU from the so called Islamic State and the migrant flow's destabilizing effect on Bulgaria and the EU, which is provoked by the ongoing conflict in Syria and the terrorist organizations' activities.

At the same time, efforts are being made to create a global coalition against international terrorism and its roots. The impaired interaction between the parliaments of EU and NATO members on one side, and the Russian Federation on the other, impedes this process, the Socialist MPs note.

In light of the need to stimulate dialogue and cooperation on the common global challenges and the demonstration of clear signs by both sides, BSP-Left Bulgaria finds it appropriate to lift as soon as possible the travel restrictions for parliamentarians, introduced by both the EU and the Russian Federation.