Brussels wants to adopt the 10th package of sanctions by February

Brussels has accelerated work on the tenth package of sanctions against Russia - the member states want to adopt a new package before the Ukraine-EU summit in Kyiv, scheduled for early February.

The Polish news agency PAP has learned about it.

The ninth package of EU sanctions was adopted in December. Although member states advocating a tougher sanctions policy against Russia were not entirely happy with the decision, its adoption was due to the belief that the EU should demonstrate unity on this issue at the end of the year.

As a result, some countries agreed to make concessions and give up some of their demands to achieve consensus among the 27 EU member states.

Work on the next package has gained momentum in Brussels in recent days, and EC head Ursula von der Leyen hinted at the issue Tuesday. "We will press the Kremlin with sanctions for as long as it takes. We will extend sanctions to those who militarily support Russia's war, such as Belarus and Iran," she said, without elaborating.

Information from PAP sources suggests that this rhetoric, however, is followed by specifics. Poland's permanent representative to the EU, Andrzej Sadosz, confirmed this. "The work has really accelerated. Poland, in a group of like-minded countries, is now proposing further sanctions. Strengthening existing restrictions is also an ongoing process," he said.

Author - Olena Madiak, 12/01/2023