EU countries on Friday failed to reach agreement on the 14th package of sanctions against Russia due to the disagreement of Germany on the question of the responsibility of subsidiaries of European companies for violating the sanctions regime, Reuters writes, citing EU diplomats who wished to remain anonymous.
Germany has expressed skepticism about how the liability clause for third-country subsidiaries and partners will affect its industry, the sources said.
At the same time, Hungary, according to Reuters, which previously opposed these restrictions, “seems“ is ready to approve a new package of sanctions.
According to the agency, the permanent representatives of the member countries of the association were supposed to agree on a decision on Friday evening, but at the last moment the subject of sanctions was removed from the discussion. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Germany's DPA news agency also reported, citing diplomatic sources, that Berlin was blocking progress in talks on a new package of sanctions. The German authorities requested that the clause on the liability of the branches of the enterprises in case of violation of the sanctions be limited to certain goods or completely deleted from the plans.