French Senate votes in favor of easing sanctions against Russia

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, ARMENPRESS. The French Senate resolution, calling on the government to ease sanctions against Russia, will make other EU member states reconsider the issue, the resolution's author said on June 8, reports Sputnik News.

Earlier inthe day, the Senate passed the document byoverwhelming majority, as302 lawmakers supported the resolution and 16 senators opposed. The National Assembly, France's lower house ofparliament, adopted a similar resolution inApril.

"I do not know whether this resolution will make the participants ofthe upcoming EU summit change the decision, butit will definitely encourage all EU member states toreconsider the sanctions issue," Yves Pozzo di Borgo told reporters afterthe vote.

Pozzo di Borgo added that asthe document was non-binding, fuhrer policy onRussia depended onthe French government. The lawmaker stressed that the resolution was supported byall political groups ofthe Senate, demonstrating the significance ofthe decision.

In mid-2014, the West imposed a range ofsanctions onRussia's energy, banking and defense industries overallegations that Moscow had been meddling inUkraine's internal affairs. The EU members will discuss the prolongation ofthe restrictions ata summit inthe end ofJune.