Fernand Kartheiser, who was booted from the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the EU after his trip to Moscow last year, is now recruiting other MPs to travel to Russia to meet with members of the Russian Duma, reported Politico. Kartheiser is organizing the trip for June 3, coinciding with the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which will be attended by President Putin.
Since 2014, the European Parliament has suspended official dialogue with Russian and Belarusian officials.
“More and more high-level European politicians call openly for a renewed dialogue with Russia on ministerial level, in Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Croatia, etc,” Kartheiser wrote in response to emailed questions. “So it is only a question of time until the EU policy will change.”
