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☆ No New Import Bans in Next EU Russia Sanctions Package - Sources
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Julia PayneBRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission will not add any new import bans in its next package of sanctions on Russia, EU diplomats said, as a 13th package proposal takes its final shape. Despite calls from some EU countries to ban more Russian exports like aluminium, the Commission will propose a package it hopes will cause minimal debate among member states so it is passed quickly. The sources added that once the 13th sanctions package is passed, the Commission will quickly propose a 14th set of measures which could include some new import bans. The EU has already banned many big ticket items such as sea-borne Russian oil imports and, most recently, diamonds. The EU will also soon adopt a first-step law to set aside windfall revenues from Russia's 300 billion euros of immobilised assets, mostly held in Europe.

Persons: Julia Payne BRUSSELS, Julia Payne, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: European Commission, European Union, EU, Russian Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Brussels, Europe, EU

☆ Commission to Discuss New Russia Sanctions Proposal With EU Countries
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Julia PayneBRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission will start informal high-level meetings with member states on Saturday on the details of a proposed new set of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, three diplomatic sources said on Wednesday. The EU is keen to put a 13th package of measures together to mark the second anniversary of the war on Feb. 24. The discussions that begin on Saturday are a final step before the Commission officially delivers a new package to be debated and voted on by EU countries in the Council. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesOne source added that some minor sectoral measures such as new import bans were also likely. Poland and the Baltic states have been calling for import bans on Russian aluminium and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Persons: Julia Payne BRUSSELS, Julia Payne, Sandra Maler Organizations: European, Russia, EU, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Poland, Baltic

☆ EV charging growth plans slowed by EU's power grid problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Julia Payne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

These are due to be implemented in 18 months and include addressing EV charging station power shortages. The ease of building an EV charging hub varies considerably country by country. To do so, it will ban sales of CO2-emitting vehicles from 2035 and wants to develop a network of EV charging stations. "Sometimes we have to send physical mail," said Peter Badik, co-founder of EV charging firm Greenway Network, which has set up 1,300 EV chargers in Slovakia, Croatia and Poland. "There is a clear need for more standardisation (of requirements for charging hubs)," BP's van Dobschuetz added.

Persons: Repsol, It's Kafka, Lucie Mattera, Mattera, Miguel Stilwell de Andrade, Peter Badik, Stefan van Dobschuetz, Dobschuetz, ChargeUp Europe's Mattera, Julia Payne, Alexander Smith Organizations: European Union, European Commission, EV, Reuters, Industry, Greenway Network, BP Pulse, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Germany, Spain, Europe, EU, Slovakia, Croatia, Poland

☆ EU states push against 'no Russia clause' in sanctions package -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Julia Payne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BRUSSELS, Nov 30 (Reuters) - EU countries are digging in against parts of the Commission's latest proposed package of sanctions on Russia, namely the so-called "no Russia clause", retaliatory financial limits and dual-use goods for personal use, six sources said. The package, which would be the bloc's 12th since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, also seeks to close more loopholes on sanctions circumvention. They justify the moves based on a sanctions list of items that could be used a "potential revenue" for Russia. On the oil side, the EU and G7 are trying to tighten the trade of Russian oil under their $60 per barrel crude oil price cap. Western countries said while it worked for a while, Russian oil revenues were rising thanks to growing "shadow fleet" of tankers made up of aging Western ships.

Persons: Julia Payne, Alison Williams Organizations: Russia, EU Commission, EU, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Russia, Ukraine, Brazil, EU, Russian

☆ EU proposal may accelerate pharma innovation decline, industry group says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Julia Payne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Any changes to our incentives system would equally affect EU-based and foreign-based companies which bring medicines to the EU and, therefore, it would not put EU firms at a disadvantage," an EU Commission spokesperson said. Medication was the single biggest contributor to the EU’s trade surplus, with 235 billion euro ($252.13 billion) worth of exports in 2021. The EFPIA said small biotech companies have already moved to the United States and China. The Commission said its proposal would reduce new medicine approval times to 180 days from 400 days. Germany, Belgium and France would be the hardest hit by the proposed rules, the EFPIA said citing research by Dolon that it commissioned.

Persons: EFPIA, Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen, Jorgensen, Ozempic, " Jorgensen, Julia Payne, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: European Commission, European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries, EU, Commission, Novo Nordisk, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, United States, China, Danish, Boston, U.S, Europe, EU, Germany, Belgium, France

☆ In diamond centre Antwerp, Russian gems are already shunned
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Julia Payne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] Cut diamonds are seen at the diamond exchange in Antwerp, as the G7 weighs a ban on Russian diamond imports to reduce revenues for Moscow's war in Ukraine, Antwerp, Belgium, October 30, 2023. Other diamond firms in Antwerp, the world's biggest centre of trade in rough diamonds and cutting of the biggest gems, were asked to avoid Russian stones. Now, Western powers want to make the boycott official with a formal ban on Russian stones. Imports of Russian rough diamonds are now at less than 5% of pre-war levels, the source said. Most proposals under consideration by the G7 now focus on rough diamonds of 1 carat and above initially.

Persons: Johanna Geron, Thierry Tugendhaft, Van Cleef, Tugendhaft, De Beers, It's, Julia Payne, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European, World Diamond Council, EU, Thomson Locations: Antwerp, Ukraine, Belgium, Rights ANTWERP, Russia, Paris, Tiffany's, Cartier, Canada, Lesotho, South Africa, Botswana, India, United States, Japan, European Union, France, Antwerp . New

EU leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have visited the Middle East to express solidarity with Israel and bolster diplomatic efforts to prevent the conflict spiralling into a regional war. "These developments require our immediate attention, without distracting us from our continued support to Ukraine." The EU and its member countries have provided billions of euros in assistance to Ukraine since Russian forces invaded in February last year. At the summit, the leaders will have their first debate on that budget package, which diplomats expect to be contentious. "It's hard to ask for more money for the EU budget when national budgets are getting squeezed," said one EU diplomat.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Charles Michel, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Julia Payne, Philip Blenkinsop, Jan Strupczewski, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Union, Ukraine, Hamas, EU, Diplomats, French, European Council, Kyiv, year's, European Commission, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Israel, Brussels, Palestinian, Gaza, Europe, Ukraine, Russian, United States, EU

The other tier comprises mainstream vessels that use Western services for legal oil shipments, including from Russia under the terms of the price cap. In the short term, available ghost vessels could be in particular demand, making chartering them more expensive. Even so, some analysts say removing the price cap could be the way to really punish Russia. But he said that was very unlikely because the price cap at least allows Russian oil to flow, thereby moderating international prices. "The Biden administration is already reeling from higher oil prices compounded by the unrest in Gaza, potentially spreading to a wider Middle Eastern conflict.

Persons: Alexandre Meneghini, Ioannis Papadimitriou, Mike Salthouse, FGE, Vortexa’s Papadimitriou, Richard Bronze, Adi Imsirovic, Biden, Natalie Grover, Robert Harvey, Julia Payne, Andrea Shalal, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Maersk, EU, White House, United Arab, Shell, BP, Exxon Mobil, Exxon, U.S, . Treasury, Treasury, Novy Port, Surrey Clean Energy, Thomson Locations: Liberia, Russia, Matanzas, Matanzas , Cuba, Ukraine, United States, Euronav, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, U.S, India, Novy, Gaza, London, Brussels, Washington

☆ Mahsa Amini, Iran women's movement win Sakharov freedom prize
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 19 (Reuters) - The European Union parliament awarded its annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Iranian woman Mahsa Amini who died in police custody last year and the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement in Iran, it said on Thursday. "On 16 September we marked one year since the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini in Iran. The European Parliament proudly stands with the brave and defiant who continue to fight for equality, dignity and freedom in Iran," EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in a statement. People take part in a protest against the Islamic regime of Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, in Berlin, Germany, December 10, 2022. Under the banner "Woman, Life, Freedom", Iranian citizens have been protesting against laws obliging women to cover their hair and wear loose fitting clothing.

Persons: Sakharov, Mahsa Amini, Jina, Roberta Metsola, Mahsa, Michele Tantussi, Amini's, Julia Payne Organizations: European Union, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Iran, Amini, Iran's, Kurdistan, Berlin, Germany

☆ Options for G7 discussion for a ban on Russian diamonds
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Enforcement would be government regulated through customs at a single point of entry for rough diamonds and several G7 entry points for polished stones. The proposal said a single entry point would be needed for rough diamonds without specifying where. Antwerp would be the favoured option for Belgium and the city also already handles most of the rough diamond trade. WORLD DIAMOND COUNCILThe World Diamond Council, which includes the world's largest rough diamond producer by value, De Beers, has proposed a version of the ban that is largely self-regulating. Any diamond sellers would then have to include with the stone they sell a declaration called the "G7 Diamond Protocol Declaration" that the diamond is not Russian.

Persons: De Beers, Sellers, De, WDC, Julia Payne, Jan Strupczewski, David Evans Organizations: Reuters, World Diamond Council, Belgian, Export Promotion Council, WORLD DIAMOND, Diamond Council, Russian, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Belgium, India, France, BELGIUM, Antwerp, Russian, Botswana, INDIA, Surat, Mumbai, FRANCE

LUXEMBOURG, Oct 17 (Reuters) - A stand-off between France and Germany over the future competitiveness of their industries will be the central point of discussion when EU energy ministers meet in Luxembourg on Tuesday, EU diplomats said. The new rules seek to protect consumers from volatile fossil fuel markets with a shift to more long-term, fixed-price contracts. Berlin fears that France, with its vast nuclear fleet, will be able to offer such contracts to its existing nuclear energy fleet - then use excess revenues generated by these contracts on subsidising industries. Central and eastern European countries that have nuclear expansion ambitions of their own are backing France. Spain, which holds the EU presidency until the year-end, has tried to find a compromise and at one point suggested axing article 19b entirely.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Julia Payne, Kate Abnett, Christina Fincher Organizations: European Commission, Thomson Locations: LUXEMBOURG, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Europe, Berlin, Central, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Spain

Word "Sanctions" is displayed on EU and Russian flags in this illustration taken, February 27, 2022. The United States and Britain last month signalled support for an EU plan to tax windfall profits generated by frozen Russian sovereign assets to finance Ukraine as Kyiv battles a full-scale Russian invasion that started in February 2022. EU members Germany and France are part of the G7 club, where the EU executive European Commission is also represented. The EU's own work among its 27 member states on harnessing frozen Russian state assets for Ukraine has been repeatedly delayed due to legal concerns, among others, after the bloc's sanctions on private Russian wealth were challenged in courts. Belgian clearing house Euroclear manages some 125 billion euros of frozen Russian central bank assets.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Thomson, Gabriela Baczynska, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Union, European, Reuters, Friday, Diplomats, European Commission, EU, Deutsche Boerse's Eurex, London Stock Exchange, Thomson Reuters, Thomson Locations: Rights BRUSSELS, Ukraine, United States, Britain, Kyiv, Morocco, Germany, France, Brussels, Belgium, EU, Belgian, Euroclear, Europe, Frankfurt, London, LSEG

STOCKHOLM/AMSTERDAM, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Airlines wrestled with the safety risk of evacuation operations in Israel on Thursday, with carriers including Dutch KLM cancelling flights while sister airline Air France mounted a special relief flight chartered by the French foreign ministry. Israel's parliamentary finance committee meanwhile approved a plan to provide a state guarantee of $6 billion to cover insurance against war risks to Israeli airlines. The framework will grant Israeli airlines cover against war risks, thereby ensuring the continuity of air operations. Foreign airlines have struggled to find a common approach and the head of European budget giant Ryanair (RYA.I) said it was up to governments to plot the way forward. PATCHY RESPONSEGermany's Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) said it was sticking to its plans for evacuation flights on Thursday and Friday, while continuing to ground commercial flights to Israel.

Persons: Ben Gurion, Ben Smith, Ed Bastian, Sasha Gainullin, Rafael Schvartzman, Obama, Anna Ringstrom, Bart H, Meijer, Tim Hepher, Joanna Plucinska, Julia Payne, Carolyn Cohn, Steven Scheer, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Doyinsola, Terje Solsvik, Deborah Kyvrikosaios, Diane Craft Organizations: Airlines, Dutch KLM, Air France, Palestinian, Israel's, Norwegian Air, Insurance, Reuters, Foreign, Ryanair, KLM, Boeing, Lufthansa, Dubai's Emirates, Delta Air Lines, International Air Transport Association, Regulators, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, AMSTERDAM, Israel, Palestinian, Tel Aviv's, Ben, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Eilat, Emirates, United States, Europe, U.S, Ben Gurion

The Balticconnector gas pipeline was shut early on Sunday on concerns that gas was leaking from a hole in the 77-km (48-mile) pipeline. Finnish operator Gasgrid said it could take months or more to repair. "It is likely that damage to both the gas pipeline and the communication cable is the result of outside activity. The damage to the gas pipeline was believed to have taken place in Finnish waters, while the telecoms cable breach was in Estonian waters, Finnish authorities said. Prices were already up on Tuesday due to fears over tensions in the Middle East but expectations that outside activity caused the pipeline damage pushed prices in the nervous market higher.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Gasgrid, Sauli Niinisto, Petteri Orpo, Orpo, Elisa, Timo Kilpelainen, Terje Solsvik, Anne Kauranen, Anna Ringstrom, Andrius, Marta Frackowiak, Louise Rasmussen, Susanna Twidale, Julia Payne, Bart Meijer, Gwladys Fouche, Susan Fenton, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Finnish Border Guard, Companies Gas, PM, NATO, Reuters, Finnish, Amber Grid, Thomson Locations: of Finland, Estonian, Finland, Estonia, HELSINKI, Baltic, Finnish, Inkoo, Paldiski, St Petersburg, NORD, Russia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Lithuanian, Ukraine, United States, Latvian, Hamina, Oslo, Helsinki, Stockholm, Andrius Sytas, Vilnius, Gdansk, Copenhagen, London, Brussels

☆ Ukraine heads into winter with a hobbled energy system
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Olena Harmash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Ukraine declines to share detailed data on the impact of attacks on its energy system, treating it as sensitive information during wartime. Kyiv School of Economics' research centre estimated the direct damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure at $8.8 billion as of June. Last winter, Ukraine was helped by relatively mild weather, rapid repairs, nuclear power and electricity imports from Europe, but some officials expect tougher conditions this time. Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, head of national grid operator Ukrenergo, said the main grid, one of the most damaged parts of the energy system, was ready to transmit winter volumes of electricity. "The energy system is not as reliable and with a smaller reserve capacity than it was before the targeted strikes," he said.

Persons: Marcus Lippold, It's, it's, Andriy Sadovy, Oleksandr Kharchenko, Dmytro Sakharuk, Sakharuk, DTEK, Denys Shmyhal, Shmyhal, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, Oleksiy Chernyshov, Serhiy Sukhomlyn, Julia Payne, Mike Collett, White, Gareth Jones Organizations: United Nations, Kyiv School of Economics, Lviv, Energy Industry Research Center, Reuters, Ukraine's, Naftogaz, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Brussels, Russia, Moscow, Europe, Zhytomyr, Kyiv

☆ What Macron means when he says he wants to 'take back control' of French power prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

PARIS, Oct 4 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said last week his government would "take back control" of electricity prices by the end of the year, without spelling out what steps he would take. "There is a point that is key for our competitiveness, and we will announce it in October, and that is to take back control of electricity prices," Macron said. "We'll be able to announce in October electricity prices that are in line with our competitiveness," he said, adding this would apply to households and businesses. However, French officials say Germany is undermining a traditional French strength due to fears cheap nuclear electricity could provide French businesses with a competitive advantage over German companies. Under the current system, called marginal pricing, European electricity prices are linked to the most expensive power producing asset.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, We'll, Bruno Le Maire, Michel Rose, Elizabeth Pineau, Benjamin Mallet, Leigh Thomas, Forrest Crellin, Kate Abnett, Julia Payne, Mark Potter Organizations: Union, EDF, EU, European Commission, French Finance, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Paris, France, Brussels, Germany, Russia, Europe, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Austria, Spain

Pipes for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea, which are not used, are seen in the harbour of Mukran, Germany, on September 30, 2022. Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Nord Stream 1 pipeline had accounted for 15% of Europe's gas imports in 2021, according to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. A second Nord Stream 2 link was planned but never operated. "Our biggest risk was that Russia can manipulate our energy markets," EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson told Reuters. Across the EU, gas storage caverns are now 95% full, Gas Infrastructure Europe data show.

Persons: Pipes, Fabian Bimmer, Kadri Simson, SEB, Ole Hvalbye, Tom Marzec, Wood Mackenzie, Gergely Molnar, Jacob Mandel, Kate Abnett, Julia Payne, Nora Buli, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, Reuters Graphics, EU Energy, Reuters, EU, SEB Commodities, Gas Infrastructure, International Energy Agency, Aurora Energy Research, Thomson Locations: Baltic, Mukran, Germany, Russia, BRUSSELS, OSLO, Europe, Ukraine, RUSSIA, Norway, United States, Russian, Greece, Poland, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, France, Reuters Graphics Germany, Belgium, Britain, Portugal, Spain, Paris, Brussels, Oslo

Three producers listed in the customs data confirmed to Reuters they had shipped coal from the two regions to Turkey during that period. Reuters was unable to find any information in customs data about deliveries of coal produced in the DNR to Turkey or other countries in 2022. Customs data shows Nedra-06 made two shipments of coal to Turkey totalling 1,600 tonnes in May and June. The buyers were Belize-based Brig Management LTD and Green Rabbit LTD of Hong Kong, the customs data showed. Coal bought at Russian ports by Brig Management LTD and Green Rabbit LTD was taken to Turkey, the data showed.

Persons: Vitaliy Khotsenko, Adzhmal, Vostokugol, Anton Nadeyev, Nadeyev, I'm, Denis Karashchuk, Karashchuk, Filipp Lebedev, Gleb Stolyarov, Humeyra Pamuk, Tom Balmforth, Julia Payne, Jose Sanchez, Mike Collett, White, Daniel Flynn Organizations: NATO, Reuters, European, British Virgin Islands, Donetsk People's Republic, Russia's Ministry of Energy, Federal Customs Service, Luhansk People's Republics, European Union, United, Ukraine, U.S . State Department, UN, Assembly, Florance, Management, Hong, Brig Management, Rabbit, Belize Companies, Corporate Affairs, Green Rabbit, Coal, Toksabay, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Turkey Ankara, Russia, Turkey, Donetsk, Luhansk, United States, European Union, Moscow . Washington, Moscow, Ankara, Ukrainian, Hong Kong, UAE, Belize, British Virgin, East, Africa, Russian, Rostov, Novorossiisk, Turkey . U.S, Antratsyt, Yasynuvata, Tbilisi, Washington, Kyiv, Brussels

Three producers listed in the customs data confirmed to Reuters they had shipped coal from the two regions to Turkey during that period. Turkey, a major coal consumer and importer, is bucking the global trend by increasing coal's share in electricity generation. Customs data shows Nedra-06 made two shipments of coal to Turkey totalling 1,600 tonnes in May and June. The buyers were Belize-based Brig Management LTD and Green Rabbit LTD of Hong Kong, the customs data showed. Coal bought at Russian ports by Brig Management LTD and Green Rabbit LTD was taken to Turkey, the data showed.

☆ Spain sees Ukraine grain ban by some EU states as illegal, France sees solidarity risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Julia Payne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Spain's agriculture minister said on Monday a unilateral ban by any European Union member state on Ukrainian grain imports seemed illegal, while France said European solidarity was at stake. Poland, Slovakia and Hungary announced their own restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports on Friday after the European Commission decided not to extend its ban on imports into Ukraine's five EU eastern European member states. Romania has become the conduit for more than 60% of Ukrainian grain moved by land and its prime minister said on Monday it may also extend the ban if import requests rise. France's agriculture minister Marc Fesneau criticised the moves, saying they called into question European solidarity. "For solidarity there needs to be unity... We must keep hold of the two elements, otherwise the European project is at risk.

Persons: Viacheslav, Spain's Luis Planas Puchades, Marc Fesneau, Fesneau, Luis Planas Puchades, Julia Payne, Sybille de la, Gareth Jones Organizations: Russian, REUTERS, Rights, Union, European Commission, CAP, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Velykomykhailivka, Dnipropetrovsk region, Rights BRUSSELS, France, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Black, Moscow, Romania

But the flood of grains and oilseeds into neighbouring countries reduced prices there, impacting the income of local farmers and resulting in governments banning agricultural imports from Ukraine. The European Union in May stepped in to prevent individual countries imposing unilateral bans and imposed its own ban on imports into neighbouring countries. Under the EU ban, Ukraine was allowed to export through those countries on condition the produce was sold elsewhere. EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on Friday countries should refrain from unilateral measures against imports of Ukrainian grain, but Poland, Slovakia and Hungary immediately responded by reimposing their own restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports. Farmers in the five countries neighbouring Ukraine have repeatedly complained about a product glut hitting their domestic prices and pushing them towards bankruptcy.

Persons: Cernat, Valdis Dombrovskis, reimposing, Terry Reilly, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Robert Telus, Julia Payne, Alan Charlish, Jan Lopatka, Karol Badohal, Boldizsar, Pavel Polityuk, Luiza Ilie, Tom Polansek, Nina Chestney, Simon Webb, David Evans, Alistair Bell, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, European Commission, European Union, EU, Ukraine, Facebook, EU Commission, Farmers, Solidarity, Thomson Locations: Black, Constanta, Romania, Ukraine, BRUSSELS, WARSAW, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Russia, EU, Bulgaria, Russian, Romanian, Prague, Warsaw, Budapest, Kyiv, Bucharest, Chicago

Hungary imposed a national import ban on 24 Ukrainian agricultural products, including grains, vegetables, several meat products and honey, according to a government decree published on Friday. Slovakia's agriculture minister followed suit announcing its own grain ban. EU PLEAEU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on Friday countries should refrain from unilateral measures against imports of Ukrainian grain. Poland, Hungary and Slovakia previously said they may extend the restrictions unilaterally while Bulgaria on Thursday voted to scrap the curbs. In August, about 4 million tonnes of Ukraine grains passed through the Solidarity Lanes of which close to 2.7 million tonnes were through the Danube.

Persons: Cernat, Mateusz Morawiecki, Waldemar Buda, Valdis Dombrovskis, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Julia Payne, Alan Charlish, Jan Lopatka, Karol Badohal, Boldizsar, Luiza Ilie, Nina Chestney, David Evans, Alistair Bell, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, European Commission, European Union, EU, EU Commission, Ukraine, Farmers, Solidarity, Thomson Locations: Black, Constanta, Romania, Ukraine, BRUSSELS, WARSAW, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Elk, Russia, EU, Russian, Romanian, Prague, Warsaw, Budapest, Bucharest

The plan could transform the global diamond supply chain, but implementation will depend heavily on India, whose diamond industry employs millions of people who cut and polish 90% of the world's diamonds. If it goes ahead as anticipated, it would split the global consumer diamond market. The EU bought 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) worth of Russian diamonds last year, based on data from Eurostat, as the EU has not banned Russian gem imports nor blacklisted Alrosa. As of 2021, global rough diamond sales totalled $16.4 billion, while demand for polished diamonds was $28 billion, the De Beers report showed. "I think the G7 officials involved with this are taking it quite seriously and I believe they will strictly enforce it.

Persons: Belgium's, Alrosa, De Beers, Paul Zimnisky, Zimnisky, Julia Payne, Polina Devitt, Clara Denina, Shivangi Acharya, Rajendra Jadhav, Toby Chopra, David Holmes, Veronica Brown, Jane Merriman Organizations: EU, Eurostat, De Beers, De, Industry, Belgian, Jewellery Export, Thomson Locations: India, Antwerp, BRUSSELS, LONDON, Ukraine, Belgium, Brussels, Russia, United States, INDIA, AFRICA, Africa

[1/4] European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers the State of the European Union address to the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France, September 13, 2023. Von der Leyen, who has been at the head of the bloc's executive Commission since the end of 2019, also said she would appoint an envoy to help small and medium-sized enterprises tackle red tape to make it easier to do business. Lawmakers gave a standing ovation after von der Leyen recounted the fate of Victoria Amelina, a Ukrainian writer and activist who was killed in a Russian attack on Ukraine. An upcoming package to support Europe's wind industry would be aimed at helping the sector as renewable energy companies struggle with steep inflation, von der Leyen said. Von der Leyen also said the wealthy bloc must engage more with African countries and accused Russia of stirring chaos in the Sahel region of the continent.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Yves Herman Acquire, Von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Victoria Amelina, Héctor Abad, Yves Herman, Jan Strupczewski, Marine Strauss, Foo Yun Chee, Kate Abnett, Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew Gray, Julia Payne, Philip Blenkinsop, Ingrid Melander, Nick Macfie, Alex Richardson Organizations: European, European Union, REUTERS, EU, STRASBOURG, EU Commission, Ukraine, Kyiv, Lawmakers, Thomson Locations: Strasbourg, France, Europe, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Colombian, China, Russia, Sahel, Africa, Brussels

☆ EU to Cease Sanctions Against Three Russian Businessmen This Week - Sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union will not renew sanctions against three men targeted over Russia's war against Ukraine when the current punitive measures expire later this week, two diplomatic sources told Reuters on Tuesday. The trio are Russian businessman Grigory Berezkin, billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov and the former head of Ozon, Russian e-commerce firm, Alexander Shulgin. The EU needs unanimity of all the bloc's 27 member states to impose sanctions, which are renewed every six months. The next batch expires Sept. 15. (Reporting by Julia Payne and Gabriela Baczynska)

Persons: Grigory Berezkin, Farkhad Akhmedov, Alexander Shulgin, Julia Payne, Gabriela Baczynska Organizations: European, Reuters Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Russian, EU

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