Extending sanctions on Belarus to reduce loopholes in the EU is being discussed

BRUSSELS, 27 january (Reuters) – Europe EU ambassadors discussed extending sanctions on Russia’s ally Belarus on Friday to combat Russian evasion of sanctions by companies that export banned products through its neighbour.

EU diplomats told Reuters that the discussions aimed to bring sanctions against Belarus closer to sanctions against Russia.

Officials said the proposals included restrictions on imports of oil, coal and gold from Belarus, as well as on the export of some equipment and technology that could be used by the military.

The EU official said that discussions between the EU countries will continue with the agreement next week.

He said that the official bloc is trying to create a balance, that Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko’s support for Moscow is unacceptable, and that he is trying not to oppress the civilian population too much.

The official, who did not want to be named, said, “This is a tightrope walk. We are trying to tighten the screws, but not too much,” he said.

However, according to the official, signs that Belarus is being used to obtain a round of sanctions against Russia mean that the EU needs to tighten its measures.

EU to Russia after invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sea oil, coal, steel, gold, whitehungry and imposed a series of sanctions banning the import of plastic products.

Russia seafood, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and cosmetics are also on the list of prohibited products.

It also imposed restrictions on Belarus and banned the bloc from firing missiles at Russia from its territory and Russia said that he allowed his troops, tanks and planes to pass through his land.

Those sanctions are tobacco products, potassium, mineral fuels and whitehungrycovering steel and rubber products.

Measures are similar in the financial sector. A ban on transactions with the central bank of Belarus and the issuance of euro banknotes, restrictions on financial inflows from Belarus and a ban on the provision of SWIFT messaging service to five Belarusian banks have been imposed.

Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Kate Abnett and Andrew Gray; Edited by William Maclean

Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

2023-01-28 17:37:34
Source – reuters

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