EU countries agreed to extend anti-Russian sanctions for three years with the exception of Usmanov and Fridman
Quick Look
- Representatives of EU countries for the first time agreed to extend anti-Russian sanctions for three years, excluding billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the list at the request of France and Luxembourg.
- Sanctions against the remaining approximately three thousand individuals and legal entities will be extended.
- Approval requires the unanimity of all 27 EU countries.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Previously, the sanctions lists were reviewed every six months. To approve sanctions in the EU, the unanimity of all 27 countries is required.
Representatives of EU countries for the first time agreed to extend anti-Russian restrictions for three years at once, while excluding billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list, which France and Luxembourg insisted on, respectively. Reuters reports this.
It is noted that it was decided to extend the sanctions against the remaining three thousand individuals and legal entities.
To approve sanctions, a unanimous decision of all 27 EU countries is required, the agency recalls, noting that previously the lists of sanctioned persons and organizations were reviewed and extended every six months.
Open Questions
- What exactly were the reasons for the exclusion of Usmanov and Friedman from the sanctions list?
- How will this decision affect the domestic politics of France and Luxembourg?
- Will other EU countries challenge this exception in the future?
