Liberal MEP Ramona Mănescu (EPP) was invited to the ”My Europe” talk show broadcast on Tvr1 on 21 February in Brussels where she spoke about the involvement of the European Parliament in the debate on the bilateral suspension of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) by the Russian Federation and the United States of America.
Ramona Mănescu wanted to explain the position of the European Parliament on this subject after the institution launched in February an appeal through a resolution to end the violation of the Treaty by the Russian Federation and to respect all the obligations agreed by the two parties, which have been and continue to be vital for the peace and security of the European continent.
“The Parliament voted last month on the INF resolution following the bilateral suspension of the treaty by the parties because the European Union has the security guarantee given by NATO and this treaty, as it does not develop its own nuclear programmes”, the MEP explained.
” The INF Treaty refers to those ballistic missiles with a range of 500 to 5500 km. Think that from Crimea, where there is a Russian military base, and up to Portugal, the EU’s farthest point to the West, there are 3500 km, so we fall into that range. This is where the involvement of Parliament comes into play”, said Ramona Mănescu.
She also said that, thanks to the EU’s partnership with NATO, the European Parliament had been receiving information on Russia’s violations of the treaty since 2014.
“NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is regularly in the Foreign Affairs Committee, where I work, to exchange views and information. We are partners”, she added.
Ramona Mănescu also said that the repeated violations of the INF provisions by Russia led the US to declare their intention to withdraw in order for Russia to use the Treaty as an “ace up its sleeve” in other high stake files, such as the economic sanctions or energy relations. President Putin realized that “in the current geopolitical context, in which Russia is increasingly assertive, this agreement does not benefit it”.
The Liberal MEP also believes that the Romanian Presidency of the Council may be more involved in European security matters on the basis of its regional expertise.
MEP Ramona Mănescu (EPP) is a full member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and a substitute member of the Committee on International Trade (INTA) and of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN).