Welcome to EURACTIV's EU Tweets of the Week.
MEPs vote to embargo Russian oil, EU relations with Hungary continue to spoil;
and Macron-Le Pen battle comes to the boil.
This episode is supported by European Biotech Week.
More about that later on.
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, around 5,000 Russian war crimes are now under
investigation.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is an attack against humanity
and its consequences will be global.
We have promised #NeverAgain but we must act now
if we really want this to be the last time.
Indifference is the mother of all crimes, tweeted Estonia Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.
A war of attrition is not a good case scenario by any means.
The longer Russia is in Ukraine, the more war crimes they will commit.
Give Ukraine all the jets, air defence, and more to expel Russia.
Embargo oil and gas urged, Andrea Chalupa
And yesterday the European Parliament took steps to do just that.
President Roberta Metsola called for an immediate full embargo on Russian oil, coal, nuclear
fuel & gas; delivery of weapons to be stepped up; and more & harder sanctions reflecting
level of atrocities.
Of course, it’s just advisory as sanctions are a matter for the Council only.
Nonetheless Suzanne Lynch said it was an indication of how the tide is turning as the EU shells
out money for Russian gas (and how Germany’s position is increasingly seen as morally untenable)
Another hold out is Hungary as Viktor Orbán said the country would have no difficulty
with paying for gas from Russia in rubles if asked.
Viktor Orban Can’t And Won’t Quit Russian Gas Because He’s Developed A 20-A-Day Addiction,
joked Le Chou.
But perhaps someone should start worrying about Orban who took victory in the national
elections on Sunday.
In his victory speech he claimed to have defeated six foes reported Samuel Ramani:
1) The "left" at home 2) The "international left" abroad
3) The Brussels bureaucrats 4) George Soros
5) The international media 6) Volodymyr Zelensky
If that’s not a dog whistle, I don’t know what is!
“Our victory is so great it can be seen from the moon,” he added for good measure!
Sanction o'clock suggested Robert Touba
And, boom, just like that at the speed of molasses the European Commission finally triggered
the conditionality mechanism by sending the formal letter of notification
Don't hold your breath remarked DG Meme.
This episode is supported by European Biotech Week.
Save the dates 26 Sep – 2 Oct ​​for a full week of events & activities aimed at
making biotech accessible to everyone by showing how it surrounds
& supports us in everyday life.
Follow the hashtag #EBW2022 for more info.
Finally this week, the battle heats up in the French Presidential elections!
According to one poll the gap between Macron and Le Pen has narrowed to just 3 percent
in the second round
One way to frame the implications of a Le Pen Presidency – Imagine what the EU would
look like if Viktor Orban were running France - not Hungary, suggested Mujtaba Rahman.
Satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo depicted Le Pen as Putin's drone asking can she win?"
Other pro-Macron accounts made the same point!
Shona Murray thought it was incredible that the far-right, boasting strong relations w
war criminal Putin could win french presidency.
In the midst of Putin’s barbaric war.
But Rob Harbin worried Macron is acting like an American politician, framing everything
in terms of domestic politics.
Plus ça change.
That's it for this week.
We are taking a break next week but join me again in a fortnight for more thrills and
spills from the Brussels' bubble Twittersphere.