Discussions on the 18th package of European Union sanctions against Russia during a meeting of the EU General Affairs Council on 18 July are scheduled under the Any Other business (AOB) item, which does not involve voting or decision-making.

Source: European Pravda, citing diplomatic sources, including a senior diplomat from a key EU member state

Details: EU foreign ministers will not vote on the 18th package of sanctions during a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 18 July.

A senior diplomat told European Pravda that sanctions against Russia will be discussed at the request of several states under the AOB item of the General Affairs Council agenda tomorrow. Ministers will exchange views, and some will voice concern over the blockage of the 18th sanctions package by two countries. However, no final decision will be made.

Another EU diplomatic representative clarified that the sanctions issue was brought to the General Affairs Council by Germany and Sweden.

The official also explained that the sanctions package must be formally approved by the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper), which "can be convened as soon as consensus is reached".

Once Coreper approves the sanctions, the 18th package may then be formally adopted by the EU Council via written procedure.

Currently, Slovakia and Malta are continuing to block the adoption of the 18th EU sanctions package against Russia.

Background:

• As European Pravda previously reported, EU ambassadors at a Coreper meeting in Brussels on 16 July again failed to reach an agreement on the 18th sanctions package.
• That same day, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asking to postpone the vote on the sanctions package until Slovakia’s demands regarding Russian gas are met. Slovakia has been blocking new sanctions by demanding guarantees from the European Commission that the country will not suffer losses when the EU fully phases out Russian gas in 2028.
• Malta reportedly has concerns over the proposed reduction of the price cap on Russian oil.

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