Italian MPs Call for Vote on Anti-Russian Sanctions Ahead of EU Summit

A group of Italian legislators urged Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to submit the issue of extension of anti-Russian sanctions to parliamentary vote ahead of the EU summit that is due to decide on the matter, Carlo Sibilia, a lawmaker of the opposition Five Star Movement, said on Wednesday.

ROME (Sputnik) — On Tuesday, 28 ambassadors from the European Union unanimously agreed to extend the anti-Russian sanctions through January 2017. A final decision on extending the sanctions will be reached at the EU summit at the end of July.

"Renzi should keep his promise given at the forum in St. Petersburg. He should prove, that he was not lying and give an opportunity to the parliament to vote on sanctions on July 31," Sibilia told RIA Novosti in an interview, adding that his party fellows filed petition to Renzi and drafted a resolution opposing EU trade restrictions' extension.

On June 17, Renzi said Italy would oppose to automatic prolongation of sanctions and vowed for consultations.

Since 2014, the United States and European Union have introduced several rounds of sanctions targeting Russian individuals and key sectors of its economy. The sanctions were initially imposed in response to Crimea becoming part of Russia and Western allegations of Russian involvement in the Ukraine crisis. Russia has repeatedly refuted allegations of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs.