On Tuesday 8 October, the Council of the EU established a new framework for restrictive measures in response to Russia’s destabilising actions abroad.
“The European Union and its Member States strongly condemn Russia’s intensifying campaign of hybrid activities against the EU, its Member States and its partners”, stressed the High Representative of the Union Josep Borrell in a statement issued in parallel with the adoption of the sanctions framework.
“These malicious activities are part of a broad coordinated hybrid campaign directed by Russia as an attempt to divide our society, destabilise and weaken the EU and its Member States and our resilience as well as to undermine our support to Ukraine and its ability to defend itself. This will not succeed: we will act united and determined to address these activities and hold perpetrators accountable”, warned Mr Borrell.
This framework, which is not currently complete, will allow the EU to target individuals and entities engaged in actions and policies by the government of the Russian Federation “which undermine the fundamental values of the EU and its member states, their security, independence and integrity, as well as those of international organisations and third countries”, said the EU Council in its press release.
In particular, the aim is to be able to sanction those responsible for undermining electoral processes and the functioning of democratic institutions, threats against and sabotage of economic activities, services of public interest or critical infrastructure, the use of coordinated disinformation, foreign information manipulation and interference, malicious cyber activities and the instrumentalisation of migrants. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)