A new round of EU sanctions on Russia, including a ban on coal imports, could be agreed today or tomorrow, said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
This statement comes as the EU failed to agree yesterday on the proposed sanctions for the ban on Russian coal.
A senior EU official said the bloc would discuss a possible oil embargo against Russia on Monday.
It is noted that the permanent representatives of the Member States of the European Union failed to agree yesterday at new package of sanctions against Russia suggested by the European Commission, as some technical issues had to be addressed beforehand, such as if the ban on Russian coal imports will also apply to current contractsReuters reported, citing unnamed sources.
On Tuesday, the Commission proposed banning the import of all types of coal from Russia as part of measures to limit EU trade relations with Moscow.
At yesterday’s meeting of the Permanent Representatives, however, some objectedsaid three sources in the Reuters agency.
It is unclear how the issue could be resolved, but diplomats were optimistic that a compromise could be reached at the next meeting of the Permanent Representatives on Thursday.
It is reminded that On Tuesday, the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, presented via Twitter the fifth package of sanctions against Russia.
According to von der Leyen, the proposals include six pointssuch as, inter alia, ban on coal imports, ban on transactions with four Russian banks and blockade of road and sea transport.
The head of the Commission wrote on Twitter:
“Russia is waging a brutal, ruthless war, also against the civilian population of Ukraine.
We must maintain maximum pressure at this critical point.
So today we suggest a 5th package of sanctions
1. Prohibition of imports of coal from Russia, worth 4 billion euros per year, reducing another important source of revenue for Russia.
2. Complete ban on transactions in 4 major Russian banks, including VTB, the 2nd largest Russian bank.
3. Prohibition of access to EU ports by Russian ships and prohibition of road access to Russian and Belarusian transport companies.
4. Further € 10 billion export bans in critical sectors: advanced semiconductors, machinery and transport equipment
5. Specific new import bans, worth 5.5 billion euros.
6. Targeted measures, such as banning Russian companies from participating in public procurement in the EU and blocking any financial support, European or national, to Russian public bodies.
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