The EU agreed on the 12th package of sanctions against Russia: what were the difficulties?

What is the complexity of the 12th package of sanctions against Russia / Collage 24 channel

The EU hopes to reach agreement on all issues of support for Ukraine during the European Council meeting in December. We are talking about the allocation of 50 billion euros within the Ukrainian Facility, the opening of accession negotiations, the approval of a separate section in the European Peace Fund, as well as 12 packages of sanctions.

A high-ranking official told a Channel 24 correspondent in Brussels about this off-records.

A European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that several positions are now on the negotiating table, and some topics have great support from European leaders. However, the interlocutor does not undertake to predict what the political decision will be. This will be decided by the heads of government of the EU member states.

“I hope that we will reach agreement on all these issues. This is what I would like to see. But I cannot talk about the results now,” the European diplomat said.

According to the interlocutor, there is a “constructive mood” in discussions among member states. However, difficulties still exist in obtaining unanimity among all EU member states. In addition, this also applies to the 12th package of sanctions.

“In the coming weeks we will have to discuss sanctions, but this is also not an easy topic. But we are working, there is constructiveness, as well as difficulties,” the source said.

It should be noted that, according to Politico, the European Commission presented a draft of the 12th sanctions package against Russia. The restrictions may include a ban on Russian diamonds. The EC is working on this issue together with its G7 partners. The European Commission proposes to introduce an embargo from January 2024, however, the introduction of an indirect ban on the import of diamonds processed in Russia to non-EU countries will occur gradually.

Also in the new package, Brussels proposes to introduce more stringent reporting requirements aimed at a complete ban on the sale of Russian oil that was bought in violation of sanctions. Despite agreeing on a price of $60 a barrel last year, Moscow manages to sell its product for $80.

The European Commission proposes to introduce a requirement for certificates, which would also include detailed additional costs such as insurance and freight. The initiative is designed to add complexity to schemes where traders can offer large additional sums to secure their cargo and claim that these funds cover various costs such as transport. This is expected to improve transparency and compliance with oil trading regulations.

As part of the new proposals of the European Union, restrictions on the import of Russian cast iron, copper, aluminum wire and foil are being considered. Additionally, restrictions on the import of Russian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are being considered, following the requirements of Poland and the Baltics. This decision is driven by a strategic request and could affect the market, since Warsaw is the largest buyer of liquefied gas in the EU, using it for car fuel and heating.