04/04/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 3 April, Dutch MPs adopted a motion calling on the government of Mark Rutte to ratchet up pressure in favour of EU level sanctions against the officials responsible for the death of the Russian lawyer, Sergey Magnitski, in 2009. According to the EUObserver, which quoted Pieter Omtzigt MP, who submitted the motion, the Netherlands could possibly cooperate with the Baltic and Nordic countries at the Council of the EU to adopt these measures. Sanctions have to be agreed unanimously by the EU28. If no European measure is adopted within the next five months, the Dutch government will be obliged to present national level legislation. The Baltic countries and the United Kingdom have adopted laws allowing for sanctions to be imposed in the context of the Magnitski affair. The European Parliament has called for sanctions on several different occasions (see EUROPE 11896). (CG)