EU to ban re-export of goods to Russia via third countries

BRUSSELS - The European Union is preparing the nineteenth package of sanctions against Russia. According to the server Politico is to include a new measure that has so far been absent from the sanctions regime - a ban on re-export of European goods to Russia via third countries.

According to diplomatic sources, the new package is not expected to have any fundamentally new elements, but the ban on re-exports is considered a significant step. The aim is to prevent European products from ending up in Russia via detours through countries that are allowed to trade with the EU. Such practices have long undermined the effectiveness of the sanctions regime and allowed Moscow to maintain access to technology and other sensitive products.

Package aimed at circumventing sanctions

According to available information, the nineteenth package of sanctions is to focus primarily on combating circumvention of existing restrictions. In addition to the re-export ban, the rules in the energy and financial sectors are also expected to be tightened. The European Commission has already started consultations with the ambassadors of the Member States and, according to Politico could present an official proposal at the end of this week.

Moscow: sanctions are illegal and harm the EU itself

The Russian side has repeatedly stressed that it considers unilateral sanctions by the European Union and the West illegal. Moreover, according to Moscow, these measures are more damaging to the initiators themselves than to the Russian economy. The Kremlin claims that the restrictions have a negative impact on European industry and the citizens of the Member States.

Closing one of the main loopholes in sanctions

The European Union has long faced the problem of goods originally destined for legal markets ending up in Russia through middlemen in post-Soviet countries or in the Middle East. The re-export ban should close this loophole in the sanctions regime and significantly reduce Moscow's ability to circumvent sanctions.

Although the new package is not expected to bring a major breakthrough, the European Commission presents it as an important step to strengthen the credibility of sanctions policy and to consolidate the unity of the European Union towards Russia.

TASS/gnews.cz - GH