Italy's Veneto Vote on Anti-Russia Sanctions May Force EU to Change Stance

The resolution adopted by the regional parliament of Italy's Veneto region in favor of lifting the anti-Russia sanctions may urge the Italian government and the European Union to change its anti-Moscow stance over the conflict in Ukraine, President of Veneto Council Roberto Ciambetti told Sputnik on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Wednesday, the 51-seat council voted 27-9 to pass a resolution urging the national government to condemn the European Union’s Crimea policy and work toward lifting the sanctions against Russia.

“We do hope that the EU next June may face the Russian-Ukrainian crisis with a more pragmatic approach. I therefore believe that this resolution voted by the Regional Council of Veneto may urge the EU to change course,” Ciambetti, who is a member of the Liga Veneta-Lega Nord parliamentary group, said.

In June, the European Union is due to decide whether the sanctions imposed on Russia in 2014 in response Moscow's alleged role in the Ukrainian conflict should be extended for another six-month period, partially lifted or abolished.

According to Ciambetti, the sanctions in place against Moscow have cost Italy 3.6 billion euro ($4 billion), with the Veneto region losing some 700 millions.

Earlier this month, the French National Assembly voted by a majority to adopt a resolution that called on the administration of French President Francois Hollande to scrap the sanctions against Russia. A similar motion is  now being considered by the Alternative for Germany Party in the southern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg.