On April 28, 2016 the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament, adopted a motion to the resolution which suggest the French government that EU sanctions against Russia should not be renewed. The sanctions were imposed after the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014.
Several members in favour of lifting the sanctions, as well as the author of the resolution, Thierry Marianiont, mentioned that "sanctions are totally ineffective", "the Minsk agreements are deadlocked" and no "promised reforms" in the Ukraine have been carried out. France being "the third largest investor into Russia and the largest foreign employer" has heavily lost in revenue.
Several right and extreme right politicians and the speaker of the party "The Left Front" also emphasized that many French farmers, in particular pork producers, had to pay the "high price". They also have "a feeling of being victims of a geopolitical decision". "Russia is a strategic partner for France as it should be for the European Union".
Source: Le Figaro (article in French)
