Europe in brief: EU adds Russian diamond giant to sanctions list

by ANSA, BTA, EFE | 05.Jan 2024 | Europe in brief

More EU news is available on the wire services of the respective news agency.

The EU Council has added diamond giant PJSC Alrosa to its sanctions list against Russia over its war of aggression against Ukraine. Bulgaria and Romania will join the Schengen zone by the end of March 2024. Belgium has taken over the rotating presidency of the EU Council.

Ein Diamant wird geschliffen. Die EU-Staaten haben ein neues Paket mit Sanktionen gegen Russland beschlossen. Diamanten und Diamantschmuck aus Russland dürfen seit Beginn des neuen Jahres nicht mehr in die Europäische Union eingeführt werden. (Zu dpa "Kein Funkeln aus Russland mehr: EU-Einfuhrverbot für Diamanten gilt")
A diamond is being cut. The EU states have adopted a new package of sanctions against Russia. Diamonds and diamond jewellery from Russia may no longer be imported into the European Union from the beginning of the new year. Photo: Oliver Berg/dpa
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EU sanctions Russian diamond giant Alrosa

Brussels (ANSA) – The EU Council has added PJSC Alrosa and its CEO Pavel Alekseevich Marinychev to its blacklist of individuals and entities subject to restrictive measures. Alrosa, owned by the Russian state, is the largest diamond mining company in the world and accounts for over 90 percent of all Russian diamond production. “The company constitutes an important part of an economic sector that is providing substantial revenue to the government of the Russian Federation,” the EU Council said.

The measure is in addition to restrictions imposed as part of the 12th sanctions package decided just before the Christmas holidays which includes a ban on Russian diamonds in coordination with the G7. In total, the EU’s restrictive measures against actions that threaten or undermine Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence now apply to almost 1,950 persons and entities.

Designated persons are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from making funds available to them. Natural persons are also subject to a travel ban, preventing them from entering or transiting EU territories. Russian diamond exports totalled revenues of about 4 billion dollars in 2022. The EU import ban on natural and synthetic diamonds exported from Russia came into force on January 1, while the import ban on Russian diamonds processed in third countries will be phased in by September. (3 January)

Eine Anzeige an der Grenze zwischen Kroatien und Slowenien am Grenzübergang Bregana. Die EU-Länder verständigten sich am Samstag darauf, den Schengen-Raum auf Rumänien und Bulgarien auszuweiten, wie die spanische Ratspräsidentschaft mitteilte. (zu dpa: «Rumänien und Bulgarien treten Schengen-Raum bei»)
A display at the border between Croatia and Slovenia at the Bregana border crossing. The EU countries agreed to extend the Schengen area to Romania and Bulgaria, as announced by the Spanish Council Presidency. Photo: Uncredited/AP/dpa

Bulgaria and Romania to enter Schengen zone for air and sea travel at the end of March

Brussels/Sofia (BTA) – Bulgaria and Romania will be admitted to the borderless Schengen zone at the end of March starting with air and sea travel, the EU Council decided in December 2023.

The abolition of land border checks will require a further unanimous decision by EU countries. So far, Austria continues to block it.

European Council President Charles Michel congratulated Romania and Bulgaria on X. He described the step as long-awaited.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said the decision made the EU stronger and provided increased protection for its citizens.

Bulgaria and Romania should be proud, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Discussions on a further decision to abolish checks at land borders are expected to continue this year. The Commission expects the EU Council to adopt a decision on abolishing checks at land borders “within a reasonable time.”

Bulgaria does not accept any additional conditions but is committed to taking back migrants who have entered the EU from its territory, as provided for in the Dublin rules, the Bulgarian government clarified.

Deputy Prime Minister Maria Gabriel was quoted by the Foreign Ministry as saying that Bulgaria would continue to work towards the abolition of land border controls. (30 December – 3 January)

Flaggen der Europäischen Union wehen im Wind vor dem Europa-Gebäude. Die von der EU-Kommission geplanten neuen europäischen Schuldenregeln würden einer Untersuchung zufolge Investitionen in den Klimaschutz hemmen - und somit zu Wettbewerbsnachteilen führen. (zu dpa: «Analyse: EU-Schuldenregeln hemmen Investitionen in den Klimaschutz»)
The Council of the European Union, Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Arne Immanuel Bänsch/dpa

Belgium takes over rotating EU presidency from Spain

Brussels (EFE) – Belgium took over the rotating presidency of the European Union from Spain on Monday for a six-month term which will be shaped by the European Parliament elections to be held between June 6 and 9.

The elections will coincide with legislative and local elections in Belgium which could cause distractions in Belgium’s presidency, the Belgian ambassador to the EU, Willem van de Voorde, acknowledged a few days ago. However, with the new fiscal rules and the migration pact agreed during the Spanish presidency just before Christmas, Belgium will not have any major legislative projects pending, although it will have to deal with Hungary’s veto of EU help for Ukraine.

Specifically, it will have to overcome Hungary’s rejection of the new package of 50 billion euros in aid to Ukraine between 2024 and 2027 and the increase in the EU budget for that period. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ultra-nationalist government is making it conditional on Brussels unblocking the 21 billion in EU funds still frozen due to the EU’s rule-of-law dispute with Hungary. (1 January)

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