Without Patriarch Kirill: EU's 21st Russia sanctions package may be approved on 13 July

The European Union's 21st Russia sanctions package could be approved on Monday 13 July, during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

Source: European Pravda, citing its own sources

Details: The sanctions package could be approved in a "watered-down" form, including without Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council could approve the 21st package of sanctions against Russia on 13 July in a compromise version that omits Patriarch Kirill and contains softened wording on the proposed entry ban for Russian combatants.

"Just a week ago, it seemed that the differences between member states over the key elements of the 21st package were too deep and that its adoption would have to be postponed until the autumn. But discussions of the revised version at the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) on 12 July gave hope that a compromise could be reached," one of European Pravda's sources said.

According to the sources, the EU is likely to make the following compromises to secure approval of the package:

1. Remove Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church and Lukoil founder Vagit Alekperov from the proposed sanctions list at the request of Bulgaria and Italy.
2. Soften the wording on the proposed EU entry ban for Russian combatants who took part in the war against Ukraine, including the possible exclusion of former servicemen from the measure, at the request of Italy, France, Greece, Cyprus and other member states.
3. Ease the wording on the proposed ban on imports of Russian fish into the EU, including dropping the proposed full ban on cod imports from Russia and Belarus, which is seen as a backdoor for Russian fish entering the EU, in the interests of Germany, France, the Netherlands and Poland.
4. Drop several proposed restrictions on Russian liquefied natural gas and related tankers due to pressure from Greece, Cyprus and Malta.

The next discussion of the sanctions package at Coreper is scheduled for Friday 10 July. According to European Pravda's sources, the Irish Presidency hopes to secure technical approval that day, with final adoption by the Foreign Affairs Council on 13 July.

If consensus is not reached on 10 July, another Coreper meeting could be held on Sunday 12 July, although no decision has yet been made.

European Pravda's sources do not rule out the possibility that the final political decision on the 21st sanctions package will be taken directly by EU foreign ministers on 13 July.

Another possible scenario remains that only the extension of the Russian oil price cap at US$44.1 per barrel for another six months will be approved on 13 July, while adoption of the 21st sanctions package would be postponed until the autumn or approved later through Coreper's written procedure.

Under the European Commission's plan, the EU's 21st sanctions package must be adopted by 15 July, the deadline for updating the Russian oil price cap.

Background:

• In early June, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the EU's 21st sanctions package.
• Since then, EU member states have failed to reach a common position on sanctions targeting the Russian fishing industry (as member states are seeking to significantly weaken the quotas proposed by the European Commission), the proposed EU entry ban for Russian combatants, and individual sanctions against Russian nationals, including Patriarch Kirill.

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