Thierry Mariani said restrictions against Moscow had backfired on the countries that imposed them
Western sanctions against Russia have ended up damaging the nations that imposed them, French European Parliament member Thierry Mariani has told the TVLibertes (TVL) channel.
In an interview aired on Saturday, Mariani said sanctions had been intended to “ruin” the Russian economy, but “on the contrary, they impoverish us.”
Citing the strain on the EU economy, the MEP said he was surprised that French President Emmanuel Macron was positive about the potential expansion of the bloc.
Nations hoping to join the EU must meet the so-called ‘Copenhagen criteria’, a set of rules that include the acceptance of all EU legislation, a functional market economy, the rule of law, and a stable democracy.
Ukraine and Georgia are among several countries keen on EU membership. However, widespread corruption in Ukraine has even provoked concern…