Brussels, 15/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 14 March, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said she believed that extending sanctions was never technical, but was always a political decision.
“There is never technical extension. Every discussion on sanctions, or extending them, is political. This can take place at different levels, but it is always political”, Mogherini told a press conference at the end of the Foreign Affairs Council - which partly focused on Russia. Several member states are reported to want high level discussions on extending sanctions.
Mogherini said that during this discussion on the bilateral common policy of the EU, the ministers agreed on five guiding principles for the EU's policy towards Russia. “It was not a difficult discussion”, she said.
Mogherini warned that the full implementation of the Minsk agreements was “a key element for any substantial change in our relations” with Moscow. She said the EU foreign minsiters also re-stated their non-recognition of Russia's annexation of Crimea. In addition, they agreed on the need for “selective engagement” with Russia, both on foreign policy issues (such as on Iran, the Middle East or Syria), and on migration, the fight against terrorism, climate change and “in other areas where there is a clear EU interest”. The ministers would also like to support Russian civil society more and to engage and invest in people-to-people contacts, particularly young people. In addition, the ministers want to strengthen relations with the countries of the Eastern Partnership and Central Asia.
Mogherini announced that the European Commission would discuss these issues in the coming months, framed by the political decisions of the ministers. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)