Reuters learns EU fails to approve 15th package of sanctions against Russia

According to Retuers, the disputes in the EU have unfolded over the timeframes given to European companies to withdraw investments from Russia. The new package may also include sanctions against tankers transporting Russianoil

Representatives of the European Union countries at a meeting on December 6 again failed to agree on a 15th package of sanctions against Russia, Reuters writes, citing diplomatic sources.

According to the agency, two EU member states have come out against extending the deadlines given to European companies to withdraw investments from Russia. New sanctions against tankers carrying Russian oil are also expected.

In addition, the document stipulates an extension of the deadline for the Czech Republic to import Russian oil products. As Reuters writes, Slovakia, through which oil products are delivered to the Czech Republic, actively supports this point. Slovakia also has a large oil refinery owned by the Hungarian MOL. Czech officials interviewed by the agency said that the deadline could be extended by six months.

Permanent representatives of the EU countries met for the third time to agree on a new package of restrictions against Russia. The agreement at the level of representatives of European countries is the first stage in the process of adopting sanctions. After the permanent representatives, they must be agreed upon by the European Council.

On November 12, EUobserver reported that the European Union had begun work on the 15th package of anti-Russian sanctions, citing European diplomats. They said that 27 EU member states had begun sending national “wish lists” to the European Commission.

At the end of November, Bloomberg reported, citing internal documents, that more than 45 Russian tankers, over 50 people and about 30 companies, including from Serbia, Iran, the UAE and China , could be subject to new restrictions under the new EU sanctions. All of them, according to the European Commission, supplied Russia with prohibited dual-use technologies. In addition, according to the agency, the European Commission proposed introducing restrictions against officials of the DPRK Ministry of Defense, among others.

The 14th package of sanctions, approved by EU countries in June, also imposed a ban on the transit of Russian LNG through European ports and obliged companies with subsidiaries in third countries not to allow the re-export of dual-use technologies to Russia. Russian authorities consider the sanctions illegal and ineffective, but this does not frighten Moscow, the Kremlin emphasized. The goal of the restrictions there is considered to be the containment of the Russian economy.