The Foreign Ministers of the EU Member States gave their political agreement on Monday 12 October to the adoption of sanctions against those allegedly responsible for the poisoning of political opponent Alexei Navalny with a chemical agent.
“The ministers discussed possible elements for a strong and common EU response to the use of a banned nerve agent, based on the proposals made by France and Germany on restrictive measures against those linked to the assassination attempt” against Mr Navalny, explained the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, at the end of the EU Council in Luxembourg.
“There is political agreement to implement these restrictive measures”, he added, noting that work was continuing in the EU Council’s technical groups.
On Wednesday 7 October, the French and German ministers had called for measures against “those whom we consider to be responsible for this crime and violation of international standards because of their official functions and an entity involved in the Novichok programme” (see EUROPE 12576/39).
On Twitter, Jean-Yves Le Drian welcomed the rallying of his colleagues. “Any use of chemical weapons calls for a united response to this destabilising act for Europe’s security”, he added.
Beyond further measures, the High Representative announced that the EU should increase its support for the Russian civilian population and human rights defenders and continue to strengthen people-to-people contacts.
Mr Borrell, who was due to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the evening, also recalled that full implementation of the Minsk agreements was an essential condition for “any substantial change” in EU-Russia relations.
In the meantime, ministers reaffirmed the relevance of a commitment according to the five guiding principles agreed in 2016 (see EUROPE 11512/18). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)