The European Commission adopted on Friday 15 July a joint proposal by the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for a new package of sanctions against Russia.
According to a Commission press release, the new package of measures aims “to maintain and strengthen the effectiveness of the previous six packages of sanctions”.
The package “clarifies a number of provisions to strengthen legal certainty for operators and enforcement by Member States”, the Commission explains. Furthermore, the package “further aligns the EU’s sanctions with those of our allies and partners, in particular in the G7” (see EUROPE 12981/20). This includes a ban on Russian gold exports. The new package should also reinforce dual use and advanced technology export controls, bringing EU sanctions more in line with those of its G7 partners.
The package will also strengthen reporting requirements to tighten asset freezes, the Commission promises.
The new package should also reiterate that EU sanctions do not in any way target trade in agricultural products between third countries and Russia and clarify the exact scope of certain financial and economic sanctions.
Furthermore, the Commission proposes to extend the current EU sanctions for 6 months, until the next review at the end of January 2023.
In addition to these measures, the High Representative of the Union announced in a statement that he would present proposals to the EU Council “for the listing of more individuals and entities, with their assets frozen and ability to travel curtailed”.
The Foreign Affairs Council will discuss the new measures on Monday, which could be adopted later in the week (see other news). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)