Šefčovič: We are not working directly on additional sanctions, but on finalizing the details
Update: 15/07/2022 14:52
Issued by: 15/07/2022, 13:24
Prague – The European Commission (EC) and EU member states are not currently working directly on the next, seventh European sanctions package against Russia. Today, the EC will present measures related to the completion of some details from the previous packages with the aim of achieving compliance with the sanctions. At the same time, the EU wants to bring the sanctions into line with the conclusions of the G7 countries. European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič said this at today’s press conference after the meeting of the General Affairs Council (GAC) in Prague.
According to the conclusions of the June summit, the states from the G7 group of major world economies want to maintain and extend the sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. In mutual agreement, further reduce Russian revenues, including those from the sale of gold. They also want to consider a possible price cap on Russian energy. Šefčovič mentioned the fact that in the EU the topic is the application of the sanctions regime on gold, when he arrived at the meeting in the morning.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) told the Reuters source on Wednesday that the restriction of Russian gas supplies will not be part of the next package of sanctions. According to the prime minister, he assumes that it will contain a ban on the import of gold from Russia, an expanded list of dual-use goods that are prohibited from being imported into Russia, and will also contain other sanctions aimed at individuals.
“We are dealing with the application of sanctions again. The lists of people on whom sanctions have been imposed are becoming clearer and more precise. We are carefully monitoring how the sanctions are applied, they are not being circumvented,” Šefčovič. The EU is also monitoring economic and trade activities in order to adapt sanctions to the most up-to-date information and tighten them in order to bring the war to an end as quickly as possible, he added.
Šefčovič was informed today by the Ministry for European Affairs of the EU countries that the commission will submit a proposal next week on how to prepare for a possible interruption of Russian gas supplies. The aim is to guarantee solidarity between member countries and at the same time protect the functioning of the single market.
Already in the morning, the Vice-President of the EC about the platform for the coordination of aid to Ukraine, which could be managed by the Ukrainian government together with the commission. According to him, it would lead to maximum efficiency and at the same time it would be possible to supervise the correct use of funds. At the press conference, Šefčovič said that a clearer form of the platform should be presented in September.
According to him, the restoration of Ukraine will require enormous political and reform efforts and significant financial resources. According to Šefčovič, the EC’s experience in managing similar demanding programs can be used and, for example, resources from G7 partners, the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund can be concentrated in one place. According to him, the Ukrainian side could communicate directly with international donors.
Part of today’s meeting was attended by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanišynova. According to the Minister of European Affairs Beka (STAN) Ukraine Ukraine on the idea of short-term aid during this year. Ministers have received detailed materials, which they will return to in a very short time, Bek said.
According to the minister, the idea of greater flexibility in the process of EU enlargement and changes that belong to the states that have the status of a candidate for joining the bloc to gain access to some areas of European policy, in a form adapted for specific countries, resonates positively among the member states.
Today, Šefčovič praised the Czech presidency, which had a few months to completely revise the program after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and according to the vice-president of the EC, it did not make a mistake.
Bek: The proposal to adjust the EP elections will require several more rounds of negotiations
According to the Minister for European Affairs Mikuláš Bek (STAN), several more rounds of discussions will be necessary for the MEPs’ proposal to adjust the system of elections to the European Parliament (EP). Bek stated this at today’s informal meeting of the General Affairs Council (GAC) in Prague. According to him, the states want time for a previous internal political debate. There are several topics in the proposal that divide the EU states.
The proposal for the reform of the European elections was approved by the European Parliament in May. The goal is to unify the method of selecting MEPs in individual member states, to introduce a pan-European constituency or to give citizens the opportunity to have a say in the selection of the head of the European Commission. Bek described today’s debate on the proposal as colorful. “It was clear that the council would contain at least several more rounds before reaching a common position,” he noted. Before the next debate, some countries also want to complete a national round of discussions.
According to him, the states are divided, for example, by the introduction of the so-called spitzencandidates, which the EP wants to promote in the long term. “It limited the role of the European Council in appointing the head of the European Commission,” he said. According to Bek, some countries have expressed doubts about whether certain parts of the proposal are in line with European treaties. “In some cases, they emphasized that the changes meant a huge interference with local customs,” he said.
Member countries have different national rules when it comes to electing MEPs. The purpose of the initiative is to unify the rules and also to determine a common date for the European elections. According to the EP’s proposal, the entire Union would vote together on Europe Day, i.e. May 9. EU citizens could vote in any member state, including by correspondence.
Accordingly, during the debate on strengthening democratic institutions, it became clear that the EU states support the European Commission’s proposals regarding the protection of the electoral process in the EU and the regulation of political advertising. “Voices were also clearly heard in favor of the European legislation that is being prepared in the area of ensuring pluralism and media freedom,” he said.