Unlike the USA, the EU does not keep a list of terrorist states. According to the will of the European Parliament, that should change. It calls for tougher treatment of countries like Russia, which it describes in a resolution as a “state using terrorist means”.
The European Parliament has condemned Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. In addition, according to the will of the European Parliament, the EU should create a terror list for states like Russia in order to punish them more severely. A large majority of MPs approved a corresponding resolution, which also describes Russia as a “state using terrorist means”.
So far, European law has not recognized a category or list for states that support terrorism. There is an EU terror list that groups, institutions and individuals can be put on, but not states. The USA, on the other hand, also has such a list for countries. Currently, Cuba, Iran, Syria and North Korea are on it. For countries that are on this list, there are bans on arms deals and financial sanctions.
The resolution states that listing a country as a “terrorist facilitator” could trigger restrictive measures and impact the EU’s relations with countries on the list. What concrete effects a corresponding listing would have for Russia is unclear and would have to be decided by the EU states.
Parliament also called for diplomatic ties with Russia to be further curtailed and contacts with Russian officials at all levels to be kept to the bare minimum, which is already largely the case. Since the beginning of the war, the EU states and Russia have expelled numerous diplomats from the other side.
The resolution also calls for further punitive measures such as an embargo on Russian diamonds. There is also pressure to close and ban state-related Russian institutions, organizations and associations under the protection of Russian diplomatic missions. The resolution of the European Parliament is not legally binding. EU countries must decide unanimously on sanctions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the EU Parliament’s condemnation of Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. “Russia must be isolated and held accountable at all levels,” the 44-year-old wrote on social networks. This should put an end to Russia’s “longstanding political terrorism” in Ukraine and the world. Ukraine has been repelling a Russian invasion for almost nine months. Since then, large areas in the east and south of the country have been under the control of Russian troops.
