According to the publication, there were expectations that a new package of sanctions against Russia would be approved by the summit of EU leaders, which will be held on December 14-15. But this never happened because Vienna slowed down the process.
Unnamed diplomats told the publication that Austria “wants to conduct internal checks” before approval.
“We are not against the package. We need to look into the legal aspects“, an Austrian official told reporters.
Politico recalls that Hungary and Greece used a similar method when they demanded that Ukraine remove its companies from the list of international war sponsors. The Austrian banking group Raiffeisenbank is still on this list.
According to the publication, diplomats hope that such a delay will not jeopardize approval of the package for a long time.
As one diplomat noted, “the negotiations went relatively smoothly.”
“We are confident that we will be able to announce the details of the package during the day on Thursday, December 14,” he added.
What preceded
Let us recall that earlier Radio Liberty correspondent Rikard Jozwiak reported that EU ambassadors again did not agree on a new package of sanctions against Russia, but this time not because of Hungary.
This was prevented by Austria, which complains that Ukraine included the banking group Raiffeisen Bank International in the list of international war sponsors.
The 12th package of sanctions against Russia is more focused on measures to combat circumvention of restrictions and includes a ban on the supply of Russian diamonds.
#Austria #excuse #delaying #12th #package #sanctions #Russia #Politico
2023-12-13 20:25:42
