Lifting Sanctions Initiator Considers Belgian Producers Loosing Party

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Belgian producers have been the losing party from anti-Russian sanctions as Moscow had been able to find other partners and importers, author of the resolution on lifting anti-Russian sanctions and lawmaker from the Belgian Parti Populaire (People's Party) Aldo Carcaci told Sputnik Wednesday.

Late last week, Carcaci announced that he had drafted a resolution calling on the Belgian government to remove the anti-Russian sanctions as they are damaging business.

"The sanctions penalize above all, our fruit and vegetable growers, as the hunting weapon manufactures. While Russia found the sourcing solutions through other partnerships. Proving the inefficiencies of the measures taken. The only losers are our producers," Carcaci said.

Carcaci also mentioned that measures taken against Russia contradict the international law as they were taken without prior consultation with the UN Security Council.

"We must return to normality in relations between the EU and Russia. It will be the interests of 2 parts," he added.

In 2014, the European Union imposed sanctions against Russian businesses and individuals amid disagreements over the crisis in Ukraine, while Russia banned EU food imports in return.

"Russia is our friend and an ally in the fight against terrorism. Therefore the sanctions are not efficient," Carcaci stressed.

Late last year, the Russian Economic Development Ministry said the country's losses from the sanctions were estimated to equal about $20-25 billion, while the European Union’s losses from the Russian food embargo were estimated at about $100 billion.