Self-Abandonment

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe votes to end sanctions against Russia, thereby surrendering its original legitimacy. A commentary by Karl von Habsburg.

It happened as expected. A month ago, the foreign ministers of the Council of Europe member states had already recommended lifting the sanctions against Russia. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe – which, incidentally, traces its origins back to the parliamentary assembly convened by Paneuropa founder Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi – followed this recommendation at the beginning of the week. Simultaneously, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe amended its rules of procedure. Sanctions can no longer be decided independently, but only in conjunction with the Committee of Ministers. The parliamentarians have thus voluntarily placed themselves in a position of dependency on their governments.

Following the military occupation and subsequent annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, which contravened international law, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe stripped the Russian members of their voting rights. This measure was entirely logical given the self-image of the Council of Europe, which sees the upholding of human rights as one of its core focuses. Russia subsequently not only boycotted the sessions but also ceased its payments to the Council of Europe.

With the current decision to yield to pressure from Moscow, the Council of Europe has, firstly, admitted to being susceptible to Russian blackmail. Secondly, it has confirmed the story that my father – citing a conversation with a Russian general – liked to tell about Europe’s behaviour following Russian military aggression against a neighbouring country: first, there will be fierce protest, including rhetorical condemnation. Then, one might even manage to implement soft sanctions. However, it will not be long before business as usual resumes, sanctions are removed, and the Russian conquest is thus accepted.

In this specific case, it took five years to return to business as usual. Moscow, in turn, skilfully exploits the weakness of its partners. Under the cloak of the Council of Europe, individuals who are subject to an EU entry ban due to EU measures will also participate in the assemblies. The fact that the lifting of sanctions throws all the fundamental principles of the Council of Europe and the credibility of European policy overboard seems to trouble the consciences of those parliamentarians who have now given in just as little as it does the foreign ministers.

The fact that the Austrian members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from the ÖVP, SPÖ, and FPÖ also voted for the lifting of sanctions only shows how seriously the talk of human rights and international law is actually taken here.

The article originally appeared on the website of Karl von Habsburg.