EU finally approves 19th Russia sanctions package
European Commission (Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo)
The European Union on Tuesday approved its 19th package of sanctions against Russia, including a ban on liquefied natural gas imports, tighter travel restrictions on Russian diplomats, and new measures targeting Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, Reuters reported on Oct. 22.
“We are very pleased to announce that we have just been notified by the remaining member state that it’s now able to lift its reservation on the 19th sanctions package,” Denmark’s representation at the EU Council announced.
“Consequently, a written procedure for Council approval has been launched. If no objections are received, the package will be adopted tomorrow by 8:00 a.m.”
The LNG ban will be phased in: short-term contracts will expire in six months, and longer-term deals will end Jan. 1, 2027—a year ahead of the European Commission’s planned schedule for weaning the bloc off Russian fossil fuels.
The package also adds 117 vessels, mostly oil tankers, to the existing blacklist of “shadow fleet” ships, bringing the total to 558. New restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomatic staff are included as well. Moscow has a long history of using diplomatic passports as cover for its intelligence operators.
Earlier the same day, Slovak PM Robert Fico threatened to withhold support for new sanctions against Russia unless the summit in Brussels produced concessions to offset the impact of climate goals on the auto industry and to tackle rising electricity prices.
The European Commission first presented the 19th package on Sept. 19. Austria had briefly sought concessions for its Raiffeisen Bank subsidiary in Russia but ultimately dropped the objections.
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