The permanent representatives of the Member States in the European Union did not agree on Wednesday on the 19th package of sanctions against Russia. According to Euronews, Slovakia and Austria are blocking it, TASR informs. The proposed package, which has been discussed for almost a month, focuses on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), oil infrastructure, the so -called shadow fleet of tankers and cryptomen platforms, as well as the movement of Russian diplomats within the EU.
After a few weeks of negotiations, the technical and legal details of sanctions were agreed, They said for Euronews not appointed diplomats, saying that on Wednesday was expected at a meeting of permanent representatives to reach the final agreement on the package. However, Slovakia and Austria, each for other reasons, were blocked by the agreement.
Euroonews gives Wednesday’s attitude of the Slovak Republic at a meeting of ambassadors to relate to the call of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico with President of the European Council (ER) António Cost, whom the head of the Slovak government reported on Wednesday afternoon. “I repeatedly reminded Antónius Cost that I am not interested in dealing with sanction packages against Russia, Until I see political instructions for the European Commission in the conclusions of the ER Summit, how to deal with the crisis of the automotive industry and high energy prices, which makes the European economy absolutely unconventional, ”said the Prime Minister.
“I refuse to deal with such serious topics in the conclusions of ER in general phrases, while helping Ukraine and supporting war to detailed decisions and attitudes. I informed Antónia Cost that we will submit significantly more specific proposals in the matter of the automotive industry and energy prices of energy, such as those that we can now see in the draft conclusions, ”added Fico.
As the Euronews continues, In addition to Slovakia, Austria, Austria, was opposed to the penalty package on Wednesday, that requires thawing assets of a Russian company Rasperia Trading to be able to to pay compensation of EUR 2.1 billion Austrian Bank Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) after the lost trial in Moscow this year.
According to Euronews, however, Member States are worried that If the Union complied with the Austrian demand, it could open Pandora’s cabinet and would start to multiply similar applications. It is therefore not clear whether Vienna will push this thing to the next week’s EU summit.
The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that it continues to support Ukraine and also the penalty regime against Russia, but also wants to protect the interests of its companies. And in this case, sanctions would help to avoid a Russian company in paying compensation, the Austrian ministry pointed out.
