Brussels, 13/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 13 March, the EU formally extended - until 15 September 2015 - the sanctions against people and entities that threaten or undermine the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Ukraine. However, the EU member states remain divided as to the need to do the same immediately for economic sanctions against the Russian Federation.
The decision to extend the targeted sanctions, which currently affect 150 people and 37 entities, was formally enacted by the Council of the EU on Friday and will be published in the Official Journal of the EU on Saturday 14 March. A political agreement was found on this at the meeting of European foreign affairs ministers at the end of January 2015 (see EUROPE 11242).
As to knowing whether the economic sanctions against Russia should also be extended (as they come to an end in July), consensus within the EU is currently lacking, said a European official on Friday 13 March. This issue will be raised at the meeting of heads of state and government that will take place in Brussels on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 March. (Jan Kordys)