Baltic states and Poland urge EU countries to terminate investment protection treaties with Russia

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have submitted a joint statement to the European Commission, calling for the termination of investment protection treaties with Russia that remain in force in 17 EU member states.

The Estonian Foreign Ministry announced this in a statement.

It said the treaties with Russia were being used to influence EU policy in Russia’s favour and that their continued application threatened the EU’s overall economic security. For example, the treaties contain provisions that encourage investment in Russia and allow individuals under sanctions to bring claims before international courts against member states and the European Union as a whole.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, quoted in the press release, said the EU’s task was to ensure “that Russia’s international isolation is maintained without concessions”.

Estonia, together with Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, is calling on the European Commission and EU member states to agree on a common course of action to address the issue in line with the EU’s policy towards Russia.

“Europe must become even stronger, and that includes freeing itself from Russian influence,” the minister said.