The European Union would make concessions to a number of European countries in sectoral sanctions against Russia, which would weaken their overall effect, says a leading expert on EU foreign policy of the Centre for European policy studies in Brussels Stephen Blockmans.

On Tuesday, the main issue at the meeting of the Department of permanent Plenipotentiaries (Coreper) steel sector punishment against the Russian Federation in connection With the situation in Ukraine. They have possibility to touch such areas as access To capital markets, defense, dual-use goods, the export of sensitive technologies in the energy sector.

" Officials of the EU, of course, will be very difficult to find the balance different interests of the countries-EU members in each of these sectors. For this reason, I think that the EU will go on a number of concessions to these countries, which in itself will reduce the effect of punishment in General, " he told the radio station

the limits discussed dual-use goods that can be used for both civil and military purposes. In addition, will be discussed defense and energy industry, said the expert.

" in each of these areas in the EU countries, different desires. For example, military supplies and dual-use goods affect not only the French, and several Central and Eastern European countries that want to keep the Russian import to upgrade their own military equipment - tanks, and so on, " says Blockmans.

" for " punishment are Sweden, Poland and the Baltic States, though They do it With reservations, he added. On the reverse side are " pragmatists ". The expert considers Germany and Italy, who want to ensure the observance of their national economic and diplomatic interests.

" I think the transition To the third section of punishment will take place, but They will not be full-fledged, Mature character, which, perhaps, expect the leaders of the countries of the EU. Rather, They will have a large number of loopholes in the small concessions to the members of the EU who want to protect national economic and diplomatic desire ", concluded the specialist.


The US and the EU does not recognize the annexation of Crimea To Russia and accused Moscow of interfering in Ukraine. Russia denies it and called such accusations are unacceptable. Western countries Since March, has repeatedly imposed punishment on a number of Russian politicians, businessmen and organizations and threatened to make wider restrictive measures. The last case of use of such practices have become July punishment.

The European Union on July 26 imposed a punishment against fifteen citizens of Russia and authorized self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk national republics (DND and LNR), and also against a number of Crimean organizations, such as the Sevastopol sea port and public organization " Sobol ". For example, in the sanctions list includes the Director of the Federal security Service Alexander Bortnikov and foreign intelligence Service of Russia Mikhail Fradkov, Secretary of the Russian security Council Nikolai Patrushev, his Deputy Rashid Nurgaliev and member of the Board Boris Gryzlov, leader of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov and the Krasnodar territory Alexander Tkachev.

in the U.S. capital and Brussels when it is ready if necessary to make wider sanctions lists. Full list of Russian Citizens and organizations that fall under punishment, -

sections: Politics