Brussels, 17/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - The European Council decided on Wednesday 16 July to extend European sanctions linked to the Ukrainian crisis because of the lack of progress in the four areas identified on 27 June (see EUROPE 11110). The measures will target entities, including from the Russian Federation, “that are materially or financially supporting actions undermining or threatening Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence”. The EU leaders have asked their ministers to adopt, “by the end of July”, the necessary legal instruments to extend the restrictive measures and impose sanctions on the individuals and entities to be listed under the enhanced criteria. They also asked that consideration be given to the possibility of targeting individuals or entities “who actively provide material or financial support to the Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea or the destabilisation of Eastern-Ukraine”. The Council invited the Commission to re-assess EU-Russia cooperation programmes with a view to possible suspension of bilateral and regional cooperation programmes. The EIB was requested to suspend the signature of new financing operations in the Russian Federation. Member states will coordinate their positions within the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with a view to also suspending financing of new operations. Proposals for additional measures, in particular on restricting investments in Crimea and Sevastopol, were called for. (CG)