Brussels, 13/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is proposing to finalise its proposals to the Council next week. They were requested by the Helsinki Summit and concern the sanctions that the EU may adopt against Russia in response to the Russian attitude in Chechnya. The Council will deliberate on 24 January, but it is not expected that legal decisions will be taken then. There will however be an exchange of political views on how appropriate it is to formulate the threat of sanctions and their possible scope.
EUROPE recalls that the summit had cited four areas of action possible: rigorous application of the partnership agreement in force; withdrawal of autonomous trade concessions; the modification of UE common strategy towards Russia; the limit of financing of the Tacis programme to a few areas (humanitarian aid, projects in favour of democracy, etc.).