on Monday, December 19, the European Union officially announced the extension of economic sanctions imposed against Russia over the annexation of Crimea and involvement in the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
“Assessing the implementation of the Minsk agreements at the European Council meeting on 15 December, the heads of state and government of the EU opened the way to extending the sanctions for another six months, until 31 July 2017. The Council formally adopted this decision on December 19, 2016, by written procedure”, — stated in a communiqué posted on the official website of the EU.
blacklist became imperishable
Economic sanctions against Russia was first introduced in the spring of 2014, shortly after the change of status of the Crimea, and was aimed against the Russian officials involved, according to Brussels, the situation around Ukraine. Personal sanctions repeatedly extended, the blacklist has been repeatedly extended, most recently in September of the current year of sanctioned persons banned from entering the EU and their Bank accounts were frozen. Personal sanctions will be in effect until March 2017.
In July 2014 for a period of one year, the EU imposed economic sanctions against Russia as a state and later repeatedly extended them, and extending from individual companies to entire sectors of the economy: in particular, the military-industrial, agricultural and financial.
Just black list there are 146 people and 36 companies, which Brussels believes are responsible for destabilizing the situation in Eastern Ukraine.
Similar sanctions imposed by the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and several other countries.
the Extension of sanctions was predictable. The EU and the USA repeatedly declared that the lifting of sanctions is possible only after the settlement of the geopolitical conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In addition, in November took place in Brussels summit EU — Ukraine on which the decision on the extension of sanctions was determined.
“Fig it!” remains in force
In response to Western sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed on 6 August the decree about application of special economic measures “to protect national interests” of the country. Order introduced a ban on the importation during the year, of agricultural products, raw materials and food products (meat, butter, milk, vegetables, fruits, etc.) from countries that have imposed sanctions against Russia.
the Import of agricultural products and food, according to the Institute for agricultural market was in 2014 to $ 30 billion in monetary terms. Part of the imported products are replaced by domestic producers, the deficit is partly covered by import from the BRICS countries. The Rosselkhoznadzor annually destroying (burying and burning) dozens of tons of banned goods, smuggled falling on the Russian counters.
the Russian authorities consider unacceptable the sanctions pressure on Russia, but we are confident in the adequacy of a retaliatory embargo on the importation of imported goods. President Vladimir Putin, commenting on the results of the October summit in Goa, India, said that there is no need to cancel counter-sanctions against countries that have imposed sanctions against Russia. He said this, answering the question of “Газеты.Ru”.
Putin was asked about the possibility of easing Russia’s counter-sanctions against those countries that have imposed sanctions against Russia.
“Fuck them!
Now I will explain my position. I said curtly but correctly. Now I will try to explain. First, I do not agree with you. This is our counter-measures are not sanctions, and countermeasures to protect our market”, — said the President.
“Since the beginning of 90-ies there was a situation that our farms even to regain part of its market was almost impossible. We took advantage of this situation and adopted some measures of a restrictive nature”, — said the President.
Putin noted that the introduction of these sanctions even in the face of falling GDP domestic agricultural production is increasing. According to Putin, earlier in Russia were imported over a million tons of poultry, and at the moment Russia is ready to export, almost covering the domestic needs.
vegetables and fruits, the situation is somewhat more complicated, and prices are rising, but the government is trying to support domestic producers. In addition, relations are improving with Turkey was recently lifted the ban on import to Russia of stone fruit and citrus, the President noted, since Russia none of this produces.
However, Moscow does not hide that would like the lifting of the European sanctions, which has affected economic relations with the European Union. According to the Ministry, the damage to Russia from the EU sanctions amounted to €25 billion in 2015. Losses from retaliatory food sanctions Russian bear and the EU: they have lost market volume of $ 8.6 billion.
Obama bequeathed Trump
For two and a half years of sanctions doubts about their effectiveness and the need for renewal expressed by Italy, Hungary, Greece, but not the United States. President Barack Obama, during a visit to Berlin in November, discussed the sanctions policy with EU leaders, particularly German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, Prime Minister of great Britain Teresa may. Obama supported the extension of sanctions. The parties also agreed that the elected President of the United States Donald trump must maintain the sanctions regime.
the trump criticized the Obama regime for the cooling of relations with Moscow and expressed willingness to establish a dialogue between the two countries. Shortly after the election trump was on the phone with Putin, and both leaders confirmed their intention to normalize bilateral relations that have stalled under President Obama. But whether they want and whether trump to reverse the sanctions trend, now will not tell anybody. The experts only make suggestions.
“When the European Union discussed sanctions on 15 December, Chancellor Angela Merkel said that we should not think that the EU copies or follows in the footsteps of American politics, we have our own vision, so we will extend our sanctions regardless of what happens in Washington, said the Chancellor,” — said Mykola Topornin, associate Professor of European law at MGIMO, Director of the Center for European information.
the Expert recalled that at the recent summit of the EU — Ukraine Merkel and Hollande as the participants of the “Normandy format” has informed other member States about the implementation of the Minsk agreements. They stated that there was no progress in the implementation of agreements is not observed.
According to Timothy Bordachev, Director of the Center for European studies at the higher school of Economics, head of the Eurasia program of the club “Valdai”, the current extension of sanctions is not the last. “If the EU refuse sanctions, failing to achieve their results, he would admit their incompetence. Let’s remember that sanctions against China after the events of 1989, lasted more than 20 years,” says Bordachev.
According to him, the coming to power of the trump can change the position of the United States but not the EU position.
furthermore, it cannot be discounted that Trump will face senior Republicans in Congress, said Topornin: “the Conservative majority will always trump touch up and slow down the search for innovative solutions in the administration of trump’s exit from the Ukrainian crisis.”
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