EU Lawmaker Urges Madrid to Play Active Role in Normalizing EU-Russia Ties

Madrid should play an active role in normalizing relations between the European Union and Russia, the deputy chair of the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee told Sputnik on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Raising tensions with Russia "has not benefited us in any case" and recalled that the "unilateral sanctions of the EU against Russia have directly affected Spain, which has lost over 200 million euro [over $221 million] in trade," according to Javier Couso from the United Left political coalition.

"I wish Spain was playing a prominent role in the normalization of relations with Russia," Couso said, adding that Russia is an important partner for Madrid and a key to "a strong and independent Europe" that would not need a "submissive and subordinate" collaboration with the United States.

Relations between Russia and the European Union, including Spain, as its member state, deteriorated amid the 2014 crisis in Ukraine. Brussels, Washington and their allies have introduced several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions since Crimea became part of Russia in 2014 and Moscow allegedly meddled in the Ukrainian conflict.

Russia has denied the allegations and introduced a one-year food embargo in August 2014 on products originating in states that imposed sanctions against it. The ban has since been extended.