প্রকাশ: 20/07/2022
The EU is preparing to carve out exceptions in its tough sanctions
against Moscow that would unblock assets at Russian banks linked to trade in
food and fertiliser, a document showed on Tuesday.
Member countries "want to make
it abundantly clear that there is nothing in the sanctions that is slowing the
transport of grain out of Russia or Ukraine," an EU diplomat told AFP on
condition of anonymity.
The EU's proposal is part of the
bloc's latest sanction update that is being negotiated by member states. It
will require unanimous approval to enter into force.
The derogation would be available
to banks already blacklisted by EU sanctions when, according to the draft plan,
"such funds or economic resources are necessary for the purchase, import
or transport of agricultural and food products, including wheat and
fertilisers".
It comes as Brussels battles
Moscow's allegations that Western sanctions -- and not its invasion of Ukraine
-- are causing a global food crisis.
One EU diplomat said allowing the
food exception was "completely understandable".
Shipments across the Black Sea
have been blocked both by Russian warships and mines Kyiv has laid to avert a
feared amphibious assault.
The food shortages have raised
the risk of famine for tens of millions of people in poorer nations,
particularly in Africa, where leaders have complained to the EU about the
banking sanctions.
The United States said last week
that it would not bar the sale of farm equipment to Russia nor prohibit the
trade of agricultural commodities such as fertiliser.
Since February, when Russia
invaded Ukraine, the EU has deployed an escalating series of six sanction
packages against Moscow, with the latest intended to close loopholes.
The EU is also targeting Russian
gold exports to fulfil a decision agreed by the world's most industrialised
nations at a G7 meeting in late June.
EU envoys are expected to decide
on the measures at a meeting on Wednesday morning, with an announcement later
in the day or on Thursday.
Hungarian premier Viktor Orban --
the closest EU leader to the Kremlin --last week slammed the EU's sanctions
policy, arguing that Europe had "shot itself in the lungs" by hurting
Europeans more than Russia.
– BSS/AFP
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