Metsola wants probe into MEP Kartheiser's meetings with Russian officials

STRASBOURG — European Parliament President Roberta Metsola wants the lawmakers’ oversight body to assess whether Luxembourg MEP Fernand Kartheiser breached the code of conduct by meeting with Russian officials, according to a letter seen by POLITICO.

Kartheiser — who was kicked out of the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the Parliament last year over a previous trip to Moscow — has held at least four video calls with members of the Russian Duma and has traveled to the country on two occasions in what he says is an effort to increase parliamentary diplomacy to help bring peace amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The latest visit was on June 3, to participate in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s flagship event sometimes dubbed “Putin’s Davos”.

Metsola has raised concerns over a joint declaration signed by Kartheiser and other MEPs with Duma officials, in which both sides agreed to “continue and to deepen” cooperation. In her letter, dated June 11, Metsola says these statements “give rise to serious concern” because they could “misrepresent” the position of the Parliament.

The Parliament officially suspended communications with Russian legislative bodies in 2014. Russian officials have been barred from accessing the institution since shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Metsola pointed to the rules that indicate MEPs need to respect the body’s “dignity and reputation,” and insisted that the political group leaders agreed the sanctions in place “should not be circumvented by individual meetings.”

‘I find it odd’

Metsola also says the EP’s oversight body — the advisory committee on the code of conduct — should look into whether Kartheiser has properly disclosed a meeting with third-country officials, and travel arrangements paid for by third parties, as mandated in the transparency rules.

Following an inquiry by the body composed of eight lawmakers from all political groups, the president can impose sanctions, including loss of daily allowance and suspension from parliamentary activities.

“I have not yet seen the letter in question, so I cannot comment on it. I find it odd that the press should receive letters concerning important matters relating to a particular MEP before the MEP themselves has received the document,” Kartheiser told POLITICO.

Kartheiser has previously declined to name other MEPs who took part in his meetings with Kremlin officials and his trips to Russia. However, lawmakers from Germany’s Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, Slovakia’s Smer party and Cypriot MEP Fidias Panayiotou were among those who traveled to Moscow during the Victory Day celebrations in May 2025.

The letter was first reported by the Kyiv Independent and Luxembourger Wort.