EU officials presented a new package of sanctions against Russia and Belarus at the European Parliament yesterday, and prepared the population for a rationing regime, RAI Brussels correspondent Donato Bendicenti reported this morning.
EU Special Representative for Foreign and Security policy Josep Borrell explained that this is the moment for Europe to turn this into a sort of political crusade, Bendicenti reported. Macroeconomic choices must be flanked with individual choices — especially individual choices that Borrell is happy to make on your behalf!
Commissioners Dombrovskis and Gentiloni explained: the impact of the war undermines growth expectations, and therefore we must deal with two challenges: solidarity with Ukraine at all costs and “autonomy.”
This came on the eve of the EU Council meeting in Versailles, March 10-11, which is supposed to launch a new stage of “European Sovereignty.” At the summit, the following proposals for new sanctions will be presented:
160 additional persons (businessmen and politicians) in Russia will be sanctioned;
Belarus is put at the same level as Russia as eligible for sanctions;
Three Belarus banks will be disconnected from SWIFT;
Any export of maritime technologies to Russia will be banned.
