European Union ambassadors are expected to reach a conclusive agreement by Friday, July 10, to present the 21st sanctions package against Russia for approval by foreign ministers on Monday.
Reports indicate that the European Commission’s initial draft has undergone significant modifications due to the stances of various member states. Key changes include:
- Relaxation of visa restrictions for military personnel. A total ban on entry into the EU for former and current Russian military members, initiated by the Baltic States, was blocked due to pressure from France, Italy, and Greece, whose economies heavily rely on tourism. The restrictions have been narrowed down to short-term visas for individuals directly involved in combat activities.
- Concessions regarding Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). Greece has conditioned its support by demanding permission to continue transporting Russian LNG to non-EU countries, which undermines previous plans from Brussels to fully prohibit the resale of this supercooled fuel to third countries starting next January.
- Oil services and fish. Discussions are ongoing regarding capping the price of Russian oil at $44 per barrel instead of the previously scheduled automatic increase to $60 on July 15. However, Greece is pushing to reduce the duration of this freeze from six months to three. Additionally, Germany, Poland, and Portugal have successfully secured exemptions from the ban on importing certain Russian fish species, including haddock and cod.
- Removal of Patriarch Kirill. Due to strong opposition from Bulgaria, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, will once again be excluded from the EU sanctions list.
European diplomats note that internal disputes and compromises have significantly weakened the 21st sanctions package’s most robust elements, but negotiations continue as EU member states aim to finalize the process.
