EU refused to cancel sanctions against Russia

The ambassadors of 28 countries of the European Union did not recommend the EU advice to change the regime of anti -Russian sanctions. This was reported by TASS with reference to a source in the foreign policy service of the EU.

“EU ambassadors discussed the impact of sanctions against Russia and the situation in Ukraine. The discussion took place after the debate of foreign ministers and EU leaders on sanctions. Permanent representatives followed the assessment made on these discussions that at the moment there was no reason to change the restrictive measures of the EU against Russia, ”said the agency’s interlocutor following the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the European Union.

He also added that the key factor in making a decision by the European Union will be the development of the situation in Eastern Ukraine and the implementation of the Minsk Protocol.

Moreover, this decision of the EU Permanent Representatives is not final and is advisory. The task of the ambassadors was to analyze the situation and on its basis give recommendations to the EU Council at the level of foreign ministers. The decision to cancel or changes in the sanctions regime against the Russian Federation can only be made unanimously by all 28 community countries. Earlier, the Kommersant newspaper, citing sources in the structure of the Union, reported that the EU would not extend sanctions against Russia after the end of their validity - March 15, 2015.

“If the situation in Ukraine will remain more or less stable, a number of EU countries will not want to extend the sanctions against Russia in full and will demand to soften them. Many EU members are especially dissatisfied with the last package of sanctions that came into force after the adoption of the Minsk agreements, that is, after the situation in Ukraine began to normalize, ”said one of the interlocutors of the publication.

Thus, according to the publication, the sanctions, which were extended for a year on September 17, will stop the action automatically - this does not require a separate decision of the EU Council. At the same time, the interlocutor of TASS, commenting on the validity of the restrictions, explained that all additions extended the sanctions regime.

Europe imposed sanctions against 119 citizens of the Russian Federation and Ukraine, which is prohibited from entering the territory of the European Union and whose banking deposits are subject to freezing in the EU countries, as well as against 23 companies with which European business is prohibited from conducting business.