The elections for the European Parliament will result in a significant increase of Eurosceptic/Anti-EU parties. The right-wing and strongly Eurosceptics will receive around 15 percent of total votes. The more moderately right-wing Eurosceptics will also win around 15 percent of total votes. And the left-wing Eurosceptics are set to get around 7 percent of total votes. Taking all Eurosceptic votes together they will win around 37.5 percent of total votes.

Original Resolution has been edited to concentrate on sanctions, Donbas and Crimea

Rapporteur: Sandra Kalniete (EPP/Latvia) 

On 12 March 2019, Parliament adopted a resolution by 402 votes to 163, with 89 abstentions, assessing the current state of EU-Russia political relations.

Source: ECFR

The May 2019 European Parliament election will provide some important signs of what to expect from the EU-Russia relationship in years to come. This is somewhat surprising, given that the parliament is not exactly the driving force of European foreign policy. The claim is based on neither the assumption that Russia might have high hopes for an anti-European and pro-Moscow takeover of the parliament, nor the assumption that it is preparing to engage in a large-scale, coordinated effort to achieve this end –as some Europeans fear.

Western sanctions against Russia haven’t worked and both Moscow and the West would benefit from lifting them. Restrictions are harmful for everyone. Lifting sanctions would answer common interests. Indeed, both Russia and the EU would benefit from resuming full-scale cooperation.

President elect Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine will take office on May 28, 2019. While President Putin has said that he’s open to one-on-one peace talks with Zelensky who is also open to such a meeting, he has made his negotiating positions clear by saying the Donbas and Crimea are territories “temporarily” occupied by Russia, and he expects to bring them both back under Kyiv’s control.

The 'Spitzenkandidaten process' is a procedure whereby European political parties, ahead of European elections, appoint lead candidates for the role of Commission President, with the presidency of the Commission then going to the candidate of the political party capable of marshalling sufficient parliamentary support. The Parliament remains firmly committed to the process in 2019  

Source: EU Transparency Register, Lobbyfacts.eu (April 2019)

1. Google: $ 6.69m-6.96m
2. Microsoft: $ 5.57m-5.85m
3. Shell Oil: $ 5.01m-$ 5.29m
4. Facebook: $ 3.90m-$ 4.18m
5. Siemens: $ 3.92m
6. ExxonMobil: $3.62m-$ 3.90m
7. Bayer: $ 3.69m
8. BASF: $3.68m
9. Deutsche Bank: $ 3.67m
10. Dow: $ 3.06m-$3.34m

Whoever is appointed as the next HR/VP in 2019 needs to enjoy the backing of all EU leaders, including the leader of his/her home member state.

1. Taxer le carbone des produits importés en Europe et appliquer plus strictement le principe «pollueur-payeur» au sein de l’UE.
2. Fermer toutes les centrales fonctionnant aux énergies fossiles et sortir de tous les hydrocarbures d’ici 2050.
3. Garantir un air pur en taxant le transport aérien et en rendant accessibles les transports propres. Développer les batteries électriques, l’hydrogène, le biogaz et les bornes de recharge et arrêter la vente de voitures essence et diesel d’ici 2040