06/09/2014 09:47
EU new sanctions against Russia to be announced Monday
The European Union is expected to announce its new sanctions against Russia on Monday, a number of European politicians said late Friday, RIA Novosti reported.
“Our intention is that the formal adoption of this package [of restrictive measures against Russia] will be done through written procedure on Monday,” a joint letter by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso says.
An EU diplomat told journalists on Friday that the official approval of the sanctions will start Monday morning. Once the decision is formally approved, it will be published in an official magazine – most likely on Tuesday.
Another source close to the EU leadership, told RIA Novosti of Friday that there was an agreement on a package of sanctions against Moscow and the final decision is due Monday.
“This new package of restrictive measures has now been agreed at the level of COREPER. It will give the European Union an effective tool, which should allow us to provide a response within a short time span. It will increase the effectiveness of the measures already in place. It will also reinforce the principle that EU sanctions are directed at promoting a change of course in Russia's actions in Ukraine,” a joint letter by Herman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso says.