For the first time, the EU has extended economic sanctions against Russia for a full year
European Union member states have agreed on an unprecedented decision regarding sanctions policy against Russia—sectoral economic restrictions will be extended not for six months, as previously, but for a full year.
The decision was approved by the ambassadors of EU member states. As a result, sanctions against the Russian economy will remain in effect until at least mid-2027.
Until now, the European Union had been extending sectoral restrictions every six months, each time requiring unanimous support from all member states. The new approach will help avoid regular political disputes over the sanctions issue.
The change in procedure is also intended to reduce the ability of certain pro-Russian governments to use the extension of sanctions as a tool to pressure partners into making political or economic concessions.
The decision was made as the European Union prepares new restrictive measures against Russia.
Source: Rikard Jozwiak.
As a reminder, at the summit in Brussels on June 18, the European Union decided for the first time to extend sanctions against Russia not for the standard six months, but for a full year. In doing so, the EU is moving away from its previous practice of regularly reviewing sanctions every six months.
The EU Council is expected to formally approve the new sanctions package in the coming weeks, according to Deutsche Welle.
