While the war in ukraine continues, the conflict between russia and nato is also escalating. Brussels is Responding with Yet Another New Sanctions Package. But experts say these Measures Are Not Enough. Europe Needs to Go Further to Really hit Moscow.
Last Week, Brussels Announced the NineteENTH Sanctions Package. The Package is Partly A Response To Violations of EU Airspace by Russian Drones, Emphasized European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It aims to increase the pressure on russia to end the war in ukraine.
These packages do have an effect, Says Professor Hendrik Vos (Political Science) from the University of Ghent. “We do not have a full view of the precise consequences of sanctions, but there are clear signals that the russian economy is not doing well. The combination of pressure and perseverance from the eu does harm the russians.”
Accordance to Vos, the Eu Has Learned from Previous Packages. “These were of approved with loopholes and backdoors, Allowing Russia to Circumvent the Sanctions. With This Package, the Eu is trying to close those backdoors, for example bytakes against the shadow fleet and by tabling allies of russia.”
Neverberness, there is also criticism. “Sanctions are necessary, but they are not sufficient if the goal is to force russia to stop,” Says Jean-Yves Ndzana Ndzana, Researcher of International Relations and Sanctions Policy at Leiden University. “It is good that there are clear deadlines for stopping russian oil, but that will not end the war. More action is needed.”
EU must also solve problems in Addition to Sanctions
For Ndzana, the core is that the EU must take other steps in addition to sanctions. A number of problems that counteract the sanctions must be solved. One of Those Problems is that Other Countries Are Filling the Gaps Left by the European Sanctions.
For Example, India is now massively buying cheap russian oil. “Tons and Tons of Oil Go That Way, Without Consequences,” Says Ndzana. Because Russia Sells the Oil to Other Countries with Large Discounts, The Flow of Money To Moscow Remains in Place.
For the eu, that is a dilemma. “If other Countries Continue to Buy the Oil, The Sanctions Become Less Valuable,” Explains Ndzana. “Europe Could Tackle India with Sanctions, but that is not happening now. The EU Needs India as a partner to counterballance China, and it is also an important trading partner of Europe.”
Division in Own House
Unity within the EU itself is also under pressure. Hungary and Slovakia Still Buy Russian Oil and Regularly Block Stricter Sanctions. “If Those Countries Do Not Cooperation, The Entire Policy is Undermined,” Says Ndzana.
But accordance to ndzana, that is not the biggest problem of the EU. “Europe’s biggest problem is deependency. Member States obtain many raw materials from outsid the eu. As long as that remains the case, they can Easily be put under pressure by russia, but also by China or the us.”
Therefore, the EU Must Set Clear Priorities: Invest More in Autonomy. “That gives the eu more power when negotiating with major powers such as russia.”
At the same time, the EU must continuous to support ukraine with Money, Technology and Defense Resources. “Only in this way can Europe that Russia is not rewarded for its aggression,” Says Vos. “This way they canot Sustain That War for Very Long.”