At a press conference in Moscow on Wednesday 17 October, Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini described the sanctions taken out against Russia as "economic, social and cultural madness".
"We will oppose the Brussels project of effective extension of the sanctions against Moscow indefinitely, with a sort of automatic renewal. Indeed, we will say a categorical 'no' to this. We consider it unacceptable", he said in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
However, the minister is reluctant to use the weapon of the veto. In his view, "the veto is a joker that cannot be used for everything". "We should put it for the financial framework in the course of the next seven years, migration policies, financial policies, sanctions against Russia, clearly. But we can't. It would become a blunt instrument", he said. He then added: "However, we will strongly oppose the embargo that we continue to consider useless and damaging, for Moscow and for the Italian companies that have already lost €20 billion".
On Thursday 18 October, a diplomatic source stated that as long as there was no progress, especially on the Ukrainian file, "the conditions (were) not met for easing or lifting the sanctions".
The economic sanctions against Russia run until 31 January 2019. Traditionally, the leaders give their agreement by unanimity to the extension of the sanctions, for six months, at the June and December European Councils. These sanctions are linked to the implementation of the Minsk agreements, but there is no progress on this.
While waiting for the sanctions to be lifted, Italy would like the EU to authorise loans for micro and small-sized enterprises. According to a European source, "Italy's request aims to authorise a resumption of financing from the EBRD and EIB for Russian SMEs". But a diplomat explained that some countries, including France, were "very reluctant about this isolated move".
According to several European diplomats, Conte did not mention his idea at the European Council, where, more generally, the issue of Russia was not addressed. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)