EP president concerned by “loopholes” in Russia sanctions

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola is concerned about “loopholes” in Russia sanctions, especially from the countries that want or are already on the path to join the bloc, refraining from naming the countries. 

Speaking with Radio Liberty on the sidelines of the inaugural summit of the European Political Community in Prague on Friday, the EU official noted that Russia “is already feeling the sanctions imposed by the EU on it”, and did not rule out that new packages would be developed in the near future. 

“The citizens of the EU should understand that sanctions are the price of democracy, which should remain unchanged,” Metsola said.

However, the President of the European Parliament admitted that “there is a fear of how long the citizens of the EU countries will be ready for strict measures”, in the conditions of the increase in the prices of energy and inflation. However, she said that “there is no fatigue because of Ukraine”. 

Metsola noted that the  EU countries had sheltered seven million Ukrainians fleeing the Russian war since February. 

Before the start of the summit, the countries of the European Union approved the eighth package of economic sanctions against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. 

The package includes a ban on the transportation of oil at a higher price than the established threshold, as well as restrictions on the import of steel products, plastics and certain types of chemicals. 

Russian citizens are  also prohibited from using the European “crypto wallet”.

In her remarks at an informal meeting of the European Council, which was also held on Friday in Prague, Metsola said that “Moldova and Ukraine need to continue on the road to EU membership, and we need to keep preparing the ground for enlargement, for the Western Balkans, for Georgia”.