The Central Government - Argument emerges on proposed Russia penalties.
Inside Germany's government, there is an ongoing disagreement over the nation's stance on the European Union's planned new sanctions against Russia. German news agency dpa reported that the Foreign Office views the objections of the Chancellery towards the sanctions package as troublesome and harmful. This is because Germany has found itself standing alone on this issue recently.
The Foreign Office communicated to dpa before today's discussions in Brussels that Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has worked tirelessly in the past two years to rebuild trust among European partners following Germany's outdated Russia policy. They emphasized that this trust should not be placed in jeopardy again.
Outside perspectives
It has previously been disclosed that Germany's permanent representative at the EU was not authorized by Berlin to sign off on the subsequent Russia sanctions package from the EU. EU officials in Brussels stated that Germany's concerns and calls for amendments were a key factor behind the prolongation of the negotiations.
An EU official shared with dpa that Germany appears to be the new Hungary at the moment, referring to the fact that the Hungarian government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, had a history of repeatedly hindering decisions on Russia sanctions.
Originally, the expectation was that an agreement on the new sanctions package would be reached by the start of the G7 summit, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will also participate. Now, the earliest that a political agreement can be sealed in Brussels is today.
Concentrating on evading sanctions
The proposed new EU penalties revolve around combating sanctions evasion. This includes preventing Russia's military-industrial complex from using Western technology to manufacture weapons for the war in Ukraine. Additionally, the EU plans to impose strict sanctions for the first time against Russia's billion-dollar companies dealing in liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The German objections to these plans target measures meant to make it more difficult for companies to adhere to EU sanctions on their own, EU diplomats claimed. Specifically, the German government demanded that businesses should not be expected to ensure that their trade partners comply with EU sanctions.
Alone once more
As per the Foreign Office, the objections cannot be entirely disregarded. It is crucial to acknowledge that the vast majority of other EU states view these issues differently. A spokesperson for Germany's permanent representation to the EU refused to comment on the negotiations with dpa. They limited their response by pointing out the confidentiality of the consultations among member states.
