EU ambassadors fail to agree on 21st Russia sanctions package

Tetyana Vysotska, KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO - 12 July, 19:07

Stock photo: Getty Images

European Union ambassadors failed to reach agreement on the content of the 21st package of sanctions against Russia at an extraordinary meeting of the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) on 12 July.

Source: European Pravda (EP), citing several EU diplomats

Details: EU member state ambassadors in Brussels were unable to reach agreement on the EU's 21st Russia sanctions package and EU foreign ministers will attempt to do so on 13 July.

One of EP's sources said that today Coreper was unable to adopt the 21st package of sanctions against Russia, despite significant progress having been made. The discussion will continue on Monday.

EP's sources clarified that reservations from certain states regarding problematic elements of the sanctions package – such as the ban on EU entry for Russian combatants, restrictions in the fishing sector and issues related to the oil and gas sector – have not yet been resolved.

Discussion of the problematic issues will continue on 13 July, during a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, attended by EU foreign ministers.

Background:

It was reported that the EU's 21st sanctions package must be adopted by 15 July, the deadline for updating the Russian oil price cap.
Since the start of June, 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.
As far back as 6 July, European Pravda reported, citing its own sources, that there were problems reaching consensus on the 21st sanctions package, which may lead to its adoption being delayed, with the freezing of the price cap on Russian oil being adopted by the EU as a separate sanctions measure on 13 or 14 July.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!