THE European Commission is to discuss with the European Union (EU) member states and its international partners the level of the implementation of sanctions against Russia and Belarus on April 8.
“Tomorrow, April 8, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, Maria Luis Albuquerque, will chair the seventh meeting of the High-Level Group on Union Restrictive Measures (sanctions).
“These meetings assess the EU’s ongoing efforts to ensure that the unprecedented sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus achieved their objectives.’’
The commission said in a statement on Monday.
In the morning, high-level representatives of the EU member states are expected to discuss the coordination of implementing the sanctions, as well as their further enforcement with regard to the latest geopolitical developments.
The fifth Sanctions Coordinators Forum with the participation of EU’s international partners included the United Kingdom, the U.S., and Japan.
Others are Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Ukraine, would open, the statement added in the afternoon.
“The Forum is a vital platform in the Commission’s international effort to ensure full and effective implementation of EU sanctions.
“It will also tackle their possible circumvention through third countries and ensure alignment with international partners,’’ statement read.
On April 1, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that the bloc was discussing the 17th sanctions package against Russia.
Moscow repeatedly stated that it can withstand increasing sanctions pressure.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that efforts to contain Russia dealt a serious blow to the global economy.
Western countries themselves have often admitted the ineffectiveness of sanctions.