EU Fails to Adopt 21st Sanctions Package Against Russia: What Went Wrong.

EU Sanctions on Russia

According to Espreso.tv: Despite notable progress, the European Union was unable to approve its 21st sanctions package against Russia during an extraordinary meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives on July 12, 2023. Discussions are set to resume on July 13 at a meeting of the EU Council. This marks the second sanctions package that the bloc has failed to pass on its first attempt, following the 20th package in February 2023.

Changes to the Draft Sanctions

Several modifications were made to the draft sanctions during the meeting. Specifically:

• Patriarch Kirill of the Moscow Patriarchate and Vagit Alekperov, founder of the oil company Lukoil, were removed from the sanctions list at Bulgaria's request.
• The ban on entry into the EU for Russian combatants was significantly narrowed.
• A proposed prohibition on importing cod, pollock, and other types of fish from Russia was dropped from the draft.
• Strict restrictions on Russian liquefied natural gas will not be implemented.

Meanwhile, an agreement was reached to temporarily freeze the price cap on Russian oil at $44.1 per barrel. The 21st sanctions package was initially presented by the European Commission on June 9, 2023. The current impasse highlights the complexity of EU negotiation processes and the divergent views among member states regarding the scope and necessity of sanctions against Russia.

This situation reflects not only internal political divisions within the European Union but also the challenges member states face when trying to coordinate a unified foreign policy. — Source: International Relations Expert

Growing disagreements among member states could complicate the adoption of future sanctions, potentially undermining the effectiveness of the EU's response to Russian actions. Maintaining unity within the bloc remains critically important to ensuring resilience against external threats.