With the construction of the Kerch bridge and the sea blockade in the Sea of Azov, which has been ongoing for months now, Russia is continuing its illegal occupation of Crimea and breaking international law once again . This was the subject of a debate in the EU Parliament on 23.10.2018. The link to the resolution can be found here.
Rebecca Harms, Member of the European Parliament and foreign policy spokeswoman for the Greens/EFA Group, comments in the run-up to the debate:
"It is long overdue that the situation in the Sea of Azov and the renewed breach of international law by Russia will finally be discussed in the European Parliament. This new escalation coming from Russia hits Ukrainian ports, trade and economy. Putin's gunboat diplomacy also needs more attention because of the imminent threat of a further military escalation. The EU's reactions so far have been too weak. We cannot rely on tensions to ease on their own, but must support and protect Ukraine's sovereignty and integrity also in the Sea of Azov. The EU and the Member States must react to the breach of international law with targeted, harsh sanctions and thus try to put a stop to a further escalation".
