Adoption of the 21st package of sanctions against Russia postponed for another week
The adoption of the 21st package of European Union sanctions against Russia has been postponed for another week. A new discussion and attempt to approve the document are scheduled for July 22 during a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU (Coreper), European Pravda reports .
According to diplomats, the last meeting of EU ambassadors before the summer break will be an opportunity to reach an agreement on a new package of sanctions.
Disagreements among EU countries have become an obstacle to a quick decision. Greece advocates for maintaining the possibility of reselling Russian liquefied natural gas to third countries. Austria, in turn, demands the exclusion of a Russian investment company from the sanctions list so that its assets can be unfrozen and compensation paid to the Austrian banking group Raiffeisen.
It is reported that a compromise option has already been proposed for Austria, which is currently being considered in Vienna. A possible compromise for Greece is also planned to be prepared within the week.
Previously, Coreper could not make a final decision on the new sanctions package but agreed to temporarily maintain the price cap on Russian oil until July 23.
Initially, the EU aimed to approve the new sanctions by July 15, as the deadline related to the review of the price cap on Russian oil was expiring.
Earlier, Bulgaria and Italy also considered blocking the package, demanding the exclusion of an active supporter of the war, Moscow Patriarch Kirill, from the sanctions lists. After Kirill was removed from the list, their objections were withdrawn.
Comments