In Strasbourg refused to return Russia’s contribution to the CE
Russia will not get back the $ 10 billion that it paid for the time, yet did not participate in the work of the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). It is reported on 2 February “RIA Novosti” with reference to a source in Strasbourg.
“The payment of the full contribution to the budget is a legal obligation of a member country of the Council of Europe. While Russia is a country of the Council, it must pay all calculated, according to the budget, which was approved by all 47 countries of the organization”, — said the source.
He also added that their obligations cannot be challenged retroactively.
Earlier, on 2 February, the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin said that the Council of Europe (COE) should be to restore Russia’s contributions to this organization over the years, when Moscow was deprived of the opportunity to work in PACE. However, on 25 January it was reported that, according to estimates of the Council of Europe, Russia needs this organization €60 million.
On 17 January the state Duma has decided not to form a parliamentary delegation from Russia at the PACE and not pay a fee to the CE.
The Russian delegation in PACE was deprived of the right to vote in 2014 because of the Crimea became part of Russia, this limit is regularly extended. In 2017, the Russian government decided to suspend payment of contributions. Prior to this decision, Moscow was one of the largest donors to the budget of the Council of Europe, annually, translating into approximately €30 million.