EU to Propose New Russia, Israel, Human Trafficking Sanctions
The EU is planning new sanctions against Russia, Israel and human-smuggling networks, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her state of the union speech this week.
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Von der Leyen said the bloc is working on another package of Russia sanctions (see 2508180005), which could help the EU more quickly phase out imports of Russian fossil fuels. She also said the sanctions will target the shadow fleet of vessels moving Russian oil and third countries that are helping Russia evade sanctions. The measures will be coordinated with “partners,” von der Leyen said, although she didn’t say which ones.
“We need more pressure on Russia to come to the negotiating table,” she said, according to a copy of her prepared remarks. “We need more sanctions.”
The EU also is planning to propose sanctions against Israeli government officials and “violent settlers” in the West Bank who are attacking Palestinians, von der Leyen said. Another proposal will put in place a “partial suspension of the Association Agreement on trade-related matters” between the EU and Israel.
Those restrictions must be approved by the European Parliament and Council. “I am aware it will be difficult to find majorities. And I know that any action will be too much for some. Too little for others,” she said. “But we must all take our own responsibilities -- Parliament, Council and Commission.”
The EU also needs a “new system of sanctions” to target human traffickers, von der Leyen said, adding that there are “too many people” trying to cross the border illegally. “And it is only by going after the money that we will be able to track down the criminal networks and cut off their sources of funding,” she said. The sanctions will “freeze their assets” and “cut off their profits.”
“People smuggling is a horrible, criminal business,” she said, “and no smuggler should be allowed to get away with it in Europe.”