Scholz Rejects EU Parliament's Call for Sanctions Against Schröder

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has rejected the European Parliament's call to impose sanctions on Gerhard Schröder for refusing to step down from leadership positions in Russian energy companies.

During a press conference alongside Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague, Scholz stated that Germany's parliament's decision this week to strip Schröder of taxpayer-funded office space in Berlin is “consistent” and “right,” and “therefore will be implemented.” However, Scholz emphasized that the former chancellor should not be punished further.

“I think there is no need for anything more at this point,” the incumbent chancellor said when asked about the European Parliament's resolution urging the EU to sanction Europeans still sitting on the boards of well-known Russian companies. “It would be better if Gerhard Schröder would step down from his positions,” Scholz added.

Schröder is a board member of the Russian state oil company Rosneft and was also proposed for a position on the board of the Russian energy giant Gazprom in February. Immediately after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, staff members at Schröder's office in Berlin resigned in protest against his refusal to step down from his positions. Although the former chancellor may now lose his office space, he still receives a monthly allowance of €8,300.