MEPs denounced Russian actions in the Azov Sea on Thursday 25 October, by adopting a joint resolution by the EPP, Greens/EFA, S&D, ECR and ALDE groups on the situation in this sea between Russia, Ukraine and Crimea.
In their resolution, MEPs deplore "the excessive activity of the Russian Federation in the Azov Sea, insofar as it constitutes an infringement of international maritime law and violates Russia's international commitments".
Parliament is concerned about "the highly unstable situation in terms of security(...), which could easily turn into an open conflict", and the continued militarisation of the Azov Sea and of the Black Sea region. It regrets that the Azov Sea has become a new maritime dimension of Russian military action against Ukraine.
The Parliament condemns the detention and excessive inspections of commercial ships, including ships flying the flags of Member States, calling on the Council and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to demand that Moscow immediately cease intensive and discriminatory inspections of ships and to consider, if necessary, appropriate countermeasures.
MEPs call on the Commission and the European External Action Service to provide a full assessment of the economic damage caused by the de facto blockade and to explore possible ways to support affected carriers and ports.
MEPs are asking the High Representative to monitor developments more closely, "in view of a growing potential conflict at Europe's doorstep, which may have wider security implications directly affecting the Union and its Member States". "It would be very useful to appoint an EU Special Envoy for Crimea and the Donbass region, whose responsibilities would also cover the Azov Sea”, the European Parliament proposes.
Condemning the construction of the bridge over the Kerch Strait linking the illegally annexed Crimea to mainland Russia and welcoming the sanctions imposed by the EU, Parliament calls on the High Representative, in consultation with the Member States, "to make it clear that sanctions against Russia will be strengthened if the conflict in the Azov Sea escalates". (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)