Brussels, 09/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - Italy has called for the question of the six-month extension of the economic sanctions against the Russian Federation to be discussed in advance, with a decision supposed to have been made without debate on Wednesday 9 December, by the permanent representatives to the EU (Coreper) (see EUROPE 11448).
According to a European source, Rome wants the extension of the sanctions not to be treated as a “simple point of procedure”, due to the importance of the issue. It will be up to the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council to decide the level at which a discussion will be held. According to several sources, Italy is calling for a debate at the level of the European Council, to meet on 17 and 18 December. However, Italy is not opposed to the principle of extending the sanctions by six months as planned. “There is an agreement in principle” on this issue, an Italian source told EUROPE.
A number of European sources said that it was not yet clear whether the question of the extension would ultimately be dealt with at the level of the ministers, at the 'Foreign Affairs' Council of 14 December, or at the level of the heads of state and government. According to one European source, it has not been ruled out that the subject will be discussed at Coreper level, on the evening of Wednesday 9 or on Thursday 10 December. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)