BRUSSELS - The European Union has not stopped watching the development of situation in eastern Ukraine closely and signals coming now regarding the attempts to stop fighting and to switch to peace talks give hope, a source in the EU institutions told Interfax on Sept. 4.
However, as of now, it is too early to talk about some real result and it is premature to come to conclusions based on the information currently existing, not to mention conclusions on the possibility of changing restriction measures, the source said.
The EU representative constantly repeated that this crisis can only be resolved peacefully and Brussels will be glad if the situation is brought to negotiations, the source said. At the same time, the EU sanctions have played their role in the appearance of these very weak positive signals, the source said.
Meanwhile, on August 30 the European Council ordered the European Commission and European External Action Service to draft proposals on expanding the sanctions, in other words at the level of EU president and prime ministers, the source said. The European Commission has performed the task and the proposals has been submitted to the EU Permanent Representatives Committee, which will discuss the application of further sanctions and might be decided on September 5, the source said. As to what the decisions might be, it depends solely on the EU states, the source said.
According to the source, these are 28 votes, which should be a single vote, and it is impossible to take upon oneself to speculate as to what the decisions might be.
When asked what role NATO summit, attended by leaders of the European Council, European Commission and head of the European External Action Service, might play in this regard, the source refused to elaborate. NATO summit and European Council are different formats, the source said.
EU states need real facts on stabilization and peace settlement in Ukraine, the source said.
The discussion of the European Commission proposals on new EU sanctions regarding Russia continues at the level of the Permanent Representatives Committee as making the decision is within the competence of the EU states, European Commission spokesperson Pia Hansen said at a briefing in Brussels earlier on Sept. 3.
The proposals are currently with the participating states, which are to discuss, assess the European Commission suggestions and to move forward, Hansen said. The proposals were submitted to the Permanent Representatives Committee yesterday and as soon as participating states approve them, they will be released under the usual procedure, she said. But for now the suggestions are being discussed by the EU states, which are to resolve the issue concerning the approval of these measures, Hansen said.
These proposals have added to the restrictions measures passed on July 31 and concern the access to capital markets, the defense sector, dual-purpose products and sensitive technology, Hansen said. These suggestions were given to the stated participants on Sept. 4 and are being studied now, the spokesperson said.
