It has been reported that a group of European Union member states have demanded the softening of the measures proposed by Brussels to stop the circumvention of sanctions against Russia through third countries. Bloomberg with reference to their own sources.
European Union leaders are proposing to ban importers from reselling high-priority goods (such as semiconductors needed for weapons production) to Russia or for use in Russia, according to the agency.
Additionally, the EU is calling for companies to be obliged to transfer a “certain amount” to a deposit account. If the measures are agreed upon, at least half of the funds in this account will be transferred to a trust fund for Ukraine, and contracts for high-priority goods will be terminated if the company violates them. The European Union is also proposing to impose an obligation on exporters to inform national authorities about violations by third-country companies.
As Bloomberg reported, diplomatic representatives of “a group of major EU member states” have expressed doubts about the legality and appropriateness of such requests. Opponents of Brussels’ proposals are demanding the list of goods that would be subject to the proposed measures be reduced, as they fear the restrictions could put European companies at a competitive disadvantage.
Bloomberg does not specify which countries oppose the initiative. Other members of the association, including the Baltic states, also support the proposals.
What does the EU want?
The European Union is trying to limit Russia’s ability to obtain essential goods used for military purposes through third countries. Kazakhstan, Serbia, Türkiye, Armenia, Azerbaijan and UzbekistanBloomberg announced.
According to him, exports from these countries to Russia decreased in the second half of 2023, but remained above the level recorded before the start of the military operation in Ukraine.
At the same time more 80% Russia buys high priority goods Chinese and creating new routes through countries such as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Thailand and Malaysia.
12th sanctions package
The European Union has presented 11 sanctions packages against Russia since the beginning of the military operation against Ukraine, and the 12th package is being evaluated.
As reported BloombergThe new package includes a ban on the supply of diamonds from Russia and restrictions on the import of liquid propane, cast iron, copper and aluminum wires, foil and pipes. The main purpose of the restrictions is to suppress the Russian Federation’s ability to circumvent sanctions and reduce Moscow’s sources of revenue.
According to this ReutersThe 12th package also includes sanctions against 47 real persons and 72 legal entities.
17 November agency source TASS He said that the ambassadors of the member countries, who are part of the delegation of one of the countries in the EU Council, have started to discuss the new package, but reaching an agreement is “still far away”:
“The target is to reach an agreement at the leaders’ summit to be held in December. “But the initial discussion showed that it was too early to say whether this would be possible.”
Official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova in the name The 12th package of EU sanctions is a violation of international law. According to him, Brussels is targeting sectors of the Russian economy that have not yet come under restrictions. He emphasized that the EU’s actions “will not go unanswered”.