Greece blocks new EU sanctions package against Russia
The Greek government has opposed the adoption of the 21st package of European Union sanctions against Russia. According to news agencies, official Athens has blocked the discussion of new restrictive measures at the EU level.
The main reason for this decision is the Greek authorities' concerns regarding national business. The new sanctions package includes, among other things, a total ban on the transportation of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) by vessels owned by companies from EU member states.
Greece possesses one of the largest tanker fleets in the world. The introduction of such restrictions could cause serious economic damage to Greek shipping companies that are actively involved in the transport of energy resources. The country's authorities emphasize that such measures must be balanced so as not to put European companies at a disadvantage compared to competitors from other regions.
At the moment, discussions within the European Union are ongoing. Representatives of other EU member states are trying to find a compromise that would allow for the approval of new sanctions without creating critical problems for the economies of individual states. The situation remains under close scrutiny by experts, as maintaining a unified position among EU countries on sanctions policy is becoming increasingly difficult.