Following the entry into force of the European Union’s (EU) 11th package of sanctions against Russia, the risks of third countries helping the Russian Federation to circumvent the bans falling under secondary sanctions have increased. EU authorities have sought to fill the gaps in the restrictive measures already taken, opens “Rossiyskaya Gazeta” in the words of Sergey Shein, Research Fellow at the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Faculty of World Economy and International Relations at the National Research University Higher School of Economics.
According to him, the main purpose of the new sanctions against Moscow is not to cause economic damage, but to show European solidarity in maintaining the restrictive strategy. In this context, the EU still retains internal resources to continue the chosen course.
“The aim of the 11th package is not to cause any economic damage, but primarily to show that the EU has the ability to maintain its sanctions policy and maintain the European union. Secondly, to give a signal to countries that helped the Russian Federation circumvent sanctions that they are waiting for secondary sanctions, ”shein concluded.
June 24 issue of Politico reportedThat the European Union (EU) officials will most likely not dare to use “new sanctions weapons”, that is, they will not “punish” countries that help Russia evade sanctions. Under the new mechanism, the EU can draw up a list of goods and a separate list of countries where these product categories can no longer be sold. But not everyone in the EU, including Germany, agrees that this would be a good move and insists it should be taken as a last resort.