13/05/2019 (Agence Europe) – The Member States' ambassadors, meeting within Coreper, agreed on Monday 13 May on a sanctions regime linked to malicious cyber activities (see EUROPE 12192/31). This decision follows a request from the European Council of 18 October 2018, which called on Ministers to "work towards the development of a sanctions regime specific to cyber attacks" (see EUROPE 12120/5). Several sources have confirmed to EUROPE that the ambassadors have agreed on an empty legal framework, in which names can be entered. Sanctions should apply for a period of one year, renewable annually. According to a European source, while a debate was held on the possibility of adding names by qualified majority, unanimity, as is customary in Foreign Affairs, was finally adopted. The sanctions regime is expected to be formally adopted at the Ecofin Council on Friday 17 May. (CG)