OREANDA-NEWS A majority of European Parliament deputies supported the inclusion of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in the European Union's sanctions list, Die Welt reports, according to Gazeta.ru.

The parliamentarians motivated their decision by the fact that the politician has not stopped his contacts with Russian state-owned companies.

Die Welt stresses that the outcome of the vote by the European Parliament could increase pressure on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell. If they approve of Schroeder falling under sanctions, all his assets in Europe will be frozen.

Earlier, it was reported that the ruling coalition in the Bundestag agreed to deprive former German Chancellor Schroeder of a number of status privileges amid criticism because of his proximity to the Russian leadership.

Earlier, a proposal to include former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in the European Union's sanctions list because of his ties with Russia was put forward by a member of the Polish parliament.