Exterior views of the European Commission Berlaymont building
ANNOUNCEMENT - Commission preliminary finds TikTok in breach of Digital Services Act for failing to ensure safe accounts for minors
ANNOUNCEMENT - Today’s council
ANNOUNCEMENT - Summer midday briefings schedule
CRISIS RESPONSE - Wildfires in Europe / Civil Protection Mechanism: Q&A
Recorded cutaways
TRADE - EU/US Relations / Tariffs: Q&A
DIGITAL MARKETS ACT / EU-US RELATIONS - Commission fines Google €890 million for breaches of the Digital Markets Act / US Reaction: Q&A
TRADE - China: Q&A
WAR IN UKRAINE - Peace negotiations / US initiative: Q&A
FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Georgia: Q&A
FOREIGN AFFAIRS / TRADE - Armenia: Q&A
FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Gaza: Q&A
WAR IN UKRAINE / INTERNAL MARKET - EU Sanctions against Russia / Export of Irish alumina to Russia: Q&A
WAR IN UKRAINE / INTERNAL MARKET - 21st package of sanctions against Russia / Kulevi oil terminal, in Georgia: Q&A
WAR IN UKRAINE - 21st package of sanctions against Russia / Exemptions / Greece: Q&A
SECURITY POLICY - Drone incidents in Romania: Q&A
INTERNATIONAL LAW - International Criminal Court (ICC): Q&A
WAR IN UKRAINE - 21st package of sanctions against Russia / Exemptions / Greece: Q&A
Yes, hello, Paula, it's for you about what you just said about the achievement of the 21st package of sanctions.
But there was a big issue with this package of sanctions involving Greece that it asked,
as we all know, to retroactively open a text that became EU law.
You eventually granted that exemption, and now transport of Russian LNG will continue.
Is the Commission concerned that this episode has set a precedent and that other Member States will come forward with similar requests and weaken the sanctions from within?
Thank you, Jorge, and It is clear when the Commission puts forward a proposal,
it is, as the name says, a proposal, and then it is discussed and negotiated. You referred to a previous package also.
Now, as we go, we see the impact of our sanctions, and we also see the impact and possible impact of the sanctions on our own Member States,
and there is one guiding principle that is and remains fundamental.
The sanctions should not affect us more than they affect the one who is supposed to be targeted, Russia,
and that's a guiding principle throughout the discussion, the proposal, the negotiation,
and eventually the agreement of these many in the meantime. 21 packages of sanctions. Siobhan, anything to add specifically on this?
I would just like to add, Jorge, that the exemption is valid for one year.
I mean, we are not proposing there is nothing more than that.
So let's be clear, it's, you know, what it is and not to, to make it into something that it's not.
And again, we've managed to get 21 packages adopted by unanimity, which is quite impressive.
So, you know,
this is an achievement and we should really talk about what's in the package rather than what's not in the package or what might have been proposed and didn't end up in the final package because it is an ambitious package.
And speaking of what is in the package.
Let me also draw your attention to the fact that we have a freezing of the oil price mechanism.
At the moment where we are and we are seeing it all unfortunately, oil prices going up.
And what we adopted yesterday, what the member states endorsed yesterday,
was a freezing for one year of the oil price at $44 a barrel.
So no matter how much it goes up, it will be frozen.
This means that Russia will not be able to seize the windfall profits that it would.
We have otherwise with what is a trend in an increase in the oil price,
triggered notably by what is happening in the Middle East.
It's also important to see what's in there,
what has been adopted and accepted by all Member States and the impact that it will have in effect. Other questions to Siobhan. Also covering for Ricardo. And also stepping in for Ricard indeed. No more questions to Siobhan Ricardo.
Other topics that you'd like to raise today.
Bogdan would like to try to come back. Let's see if.
The connection is working, Bogdan. There you go.