NextFin news, BRUSSELS, Tuesday — The European Union's ambassadors to the EU removed the discussion of the bloc's 19th sanctions package against Russia from the agenda scheduled for Wednesday, with no new date planned, EU diplomats confirmed on Tuesday.
The meeting, known as COREPER, which prepares dossiers for ministerial decisions, was expected to consider new sanctions aimed at further restricting Russia's energy revenues, banking sector, and vessels linked to the so-called "shadow fleet". However, the item was withdrawn late on Tuesday afternoon.
No official reason was provided for the postponement. Under the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, sanctions require unanimous approval by all 27 member states, meaning any single country can delay adoption by withholding agreement.
The European Commission had been working for weeks on the 19th package, which was anticipated to include expanded listings of Russian banks and entities in third countries suspected of facilitating sanctions evasion. The package was also expected to introduce further restrictions on the oil trade, including measures affecting traders and intermediaries outside the EU.
This new package would follow the 18th round of sanctions adopted in mid-July, which focused on reducing Russia's energy revenues, tightening banking restrictions, constraining the military-industrial base, strengthening anti-circumvention tools, and accountability measures related to the deportation of Ukrainian children and damage to cultural heritage.
Alongside these packages, the EU periodically updates designations under existing sanctions regimes. On September 12, the EU extended restrictive measures on individuals linked to Russia's war against Ukraine, maintaining asset freezes and travel bans.
EU officials have emphasized enforcement and anti-circumvention as core pillars of their sanctions strategy, aiming to prevent re-routing of sensitive goods and improve compliance across member states.
The postponement means that the 19th sanctions package will not be discussed on Wednesday, September 17, as initially planned. The Council of the EU has not announced when the file will return to the agenda.
EU diplomats and officials maintain that sanctions remain a central instrument of the Union's response to Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine, with future packages expected to continue focusing on enforcement, anti-circumvention, and pressure on Russia's revenue streams.
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