Greece blocks EU’s 21st Russia sanctions package
REUTERS/Francois Lenoir
Greece
has emerged as the remaining obstacle to approving the European Union’s 21st
sanctions package against Russia, Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne
reported on July 20, citing European Commission sources.
According to those sources, Athens argues that prohibiting EU companies from transshipping Russian LNG to third countries would hurt the Greek economy while having a minimal effect on Moscow’s finances. The European Commission disagrees and is preparing a detailed analysis of the proposed measures.
Possible options include granting an exemption to Greece or removing the LNG re-export provision from the list of restrictions, the sources said. They added that the 21st package already has been scaled back: a ban on fish purchases was dropped and the mechanism to bar Russian military personnel from entering EU countries was revised.
EU officials are scheduled to discuss the package again on July 22.
One EU diplomat told Suspilne that Greece currently “looks isolated — almost like Hungary before,” and said Athens will ultimately have to “find a compromise.”
The Financial Times reported July 19 that several EU
countries, including France, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Portugal, had sought
to soften new restrictions because of harm to domestic businesses. On July 3,
Politico reported that Italy had raised concerns about plans to sanction
Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, citing pressure from the Vatican.
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