EU Delays Discussion of 19th Russia Sanctions Package; No New Date Set
Brussels, 16 September 2023 — EU ambassadors have removed discussion of the bloc’s planned 19th package of sanctions against Russia from their agenda this week, with no alternative date scheduled, according to diplomats.
The item had been slated for a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) on Wednesday. One diplomat said the point was withdrawn late on Tuesday and that “no new date is planned”. This sudden removal from the agenda has left many wondering about the reasons behind this decision.
Sanctions Package Development
COREPER, which brings together the member states’ permanent representatives in Brussels, prepares the Council of the EU’s work and clears dossiers for ministerial decision. In sanctions files, it serves as a key stage for reconciling national positions before proposals go to ministers for adoption. The European Commission has been working for weeks on the 19th package, which diplomats have said could extend listings to additional Russian banks and vessels linked to the so-called “shadow fleet”, and to entities in third countries suspected of facilitating sanctions circumvention.
Previous Sanctions Packages
The paused COREPER discussion means ambassadors will not take up the 19th package on Wednesday, 20 September, as previously envisaged. The Council’s timeline of measures shows that sanctions dossiers continue to evolve through frequent technical meetings before political agreement is reached. The Council has not announced when the file will return to the agenda.
Enforcement and Coordination
Commission and Council officials have also highlighted the enforcement dimension. In parallel to sanctions packages, the EU has advanced export-control actions and anti-circumvention measures aimed at preventing the re-routing of sensitive goods and at tightening compliance across the bloc. According to the Commission’s July communication on the 18th package, enforcement against evasion and better coordination among national authorities are core pillars of the current approach.
Conclusion
While there is no formal explanation for the latest delay, the unanimity requirement and the breadth of files under consideration typically necessitate further consultations among capitals. When consensus emerges at ambassadorial level, the package can move swiftly to formal adoption by ministers and publication in the Official Journal. Until then, the Commission’s draft remains under negotiation.
Original Article: EU shelves discussion of 19th Russia sanctions package; no new date set — Eutoday