EU countries weigh fresh plan to salvage Russia sanctions package
EU ambassadors will discuss a new proposal on Thursday after Greece refused to back the package over a gas shipments issue. Separately, EU capitals failed to force the Commission's hand on Israeli settler sanctions.
New proposal for Russia sanctions
EU countries are weighing a fresh plan to salvage the sanctions package against Russia. Ambassadors will discuss a new proposal on Thursday after Greece refused to back the previous package due to a gas shipments issue. The package requires unanimous support from all 27 member states, meaning Greece's rejection blocked it. Details of the new proposal have not been made public, but it is expected to address Greece's concerns.
Post-Orbán sanctions showdown exposes red lines
The situation exposes EU capitals' red lines now that Hungary's Viktor Orbán is no longer providing cover for objections. Previously, Budapest often served as a shield behind which other countries could hide their reservations. Now, governments are forced to own their objections to tougher action against Russia.
Failure on Israeli settler sanctions
Separately, efforts by EU capitals to force the European Commission to put forward concrete measures for voting on sanctions against Israeli settlers failed. Countries trying to push the Commission into action were unable to do so, highlighting divisions among member states on the issue.
