Zephyr Net

EU sanctions against Russia bound to continue

December 12, 13:15 UTC+3
A formal decision, the source said, should come from the EU Council, though this may be done differently...

RUSSELS, December 12. /TASS/. The European Union’s sanctions against Russia, which term expires on January 31, 2016, are bound to be extended - whether discussed or without a discussion, a source close to the EU Council told TASS on Saturday.

"It is as simple as this: the EU Council has related the limiting measures with implementation of the Minsk accords. It is not an issue to be discussed, it is a political objective we have now. By and large, the Minsk accords are not implemented as of today, thus sanctions are to be extended. They say, for another six months," the diplomat said commenting on numerous speculations in the media around the issue.

A formal decision, the source said, should come from the EU Council, though this may be done differently.
"At present, the work continues at the level of working groups. The plans are, the EU ambassadors approve it (decision) in a written procedure, though later on the procedure was postponed as the work still continues. Nobody is really in a hurry, since the sanctions expire only in late January."

The source said the issue of extending the anti-Russian sanctions is not on the agenda of the EU Council due on December 14 in Brussels.

"No, this topic is not on the agenda. I do not think any discussion will take place, and the reason is very simple: the agreement is the sanctions will remain until the Minsk accords are implemented. In fact, there is nothing to discuss, which is clear to everyone."
While replying to a question when a decision may be taken, the source said: "It is tough to say now on what day, as it is not clear yet what procedure will be used. But I do not think it will happen very soon. Anyway, there is quite a time to January 31."
To discuss or to extend automatically
While commenting on the media discussing sanctions, the source said "the very fact of the sanctions’ extension is a ready decision now."

"Right, some EU countries speak for discussing the sanctions package at the level of ministers (including Italy, Luxemburg - TASS), others are ready to extend them automatically so that not to waste time discussing the Ukrainian crisis at the last meetings of this year, which will be aimed at settlement of many problems related to migration; however, as of today not a single EU country out of the list of 28 has spoken against extension of the limitation measures," the source said.
Another European diplomat also confirmed to TASS the sanctions "are bound to be extended." He said the issues of milder or tougher sanctions "even have not been raised." "Nobody is going to review each of the sanctions. This work is very effort-consuming, and it is not reasonable to begin it under the conditions, where the situation in the zone of the Ukrainian conflict has not changed radically in either direction," he said.

EU sanctions against Russia bound to continue...with the approval of the US, given that the EU IS HIS POODLE. WOOF WOOF!