The German socialist (once the mayor of Würselen!) hit back immediately. He restricted free access to 'his building' for the Russian Ambassador!
But it seems that in his temper Schulz has gone a bridge too far; for he has been hauled over the carpet by the EPP (though its President at first agreed with Schultz) and by other EP political groups which were not involved at all in Schulz's rash reaction.
Indeed, the political ping pong was quite frenetic last week. Russia barred dozens of EU politicians and officials from entering its territory in what appeared to be a retaliatory move. Because the EU barred Russian politicians, officials and businessmen for reportedly supporting the annexation of Crimea or pro-Russian forces fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, who was in Ukraine (of all places) when he heard about the list of barred Russia travelers, described the Russian move as 'not especially smart'. European Commission Vice-President Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief, said: 'We consider this measure as totally arbitrary and unjustified'.
Probably Mogherini and Steinmeier could not remember that the same words were used by Russia when the EU put scores of Russians on the EU blacklist. An example of shameless double standards by the EU.
There is a very clear Latin expression for this EU behaviour: Quod licet Iovi non licet bovi, in English: what's permitted to Jove is not permitted to the oxen…
