Brussels, 08/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 7 July, the ambassadors of the EU countries agreed to extend the sanctions related to the crisis in Ukraine. After discussing the situation on the ground and the diplomatic efforts under way, the ambassadors believed that progress on the four criteria set by the European Council on 27 June was not enough. “There are steps, but they are not enough”, a European source told EUROPE. The four criteria are an agreement on a verification mechanism, under OSCE observation, as regards the ceasefire and the effective control of borders; the opening of in-depth negotiations on implementing the peace plan of Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko; the release of hostages; and the return of three border posts to the control of the Ukrainian authorities (see EUROPE 11110).
The ambassadors of the EU member states will meet again during the afternoon of 9 July to discuss new sanctions and look at the proposals for new names. These new sanctions will be restrictive Stage 2 measures - in other words, targeted measures - and their legal base will remain the same. According to another, British, source, the measures should “very likely” concern people, rather than entities, and more separatists. “The contact group was ready to meet, but the separatists did not come”, said this source at the time the Ukrainians, Russians and OSCE were ready to meet. “If we want to go further, to have a ceasefire, the separatists need to participate”, the source added.
According to the first source, it is not certain, however, that new sanctions will be adopted on 9 July. (CG)