Enlarge image
Josep Borrell: Criticism of opponents of sanctions
Photo:
BORIS PEJOVIC v EPO
The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell rejects the doubts about the sanctions policy against Russia that have been openly expressed in some countries.
"Some European heads of state and government said the sanctions were a mistake," said the Spaniard on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
There is a big debate about whether the sanctions are effective and hit the EU more than Russia.
At the same time, Borrell made it clear that he considers this discussion to be wrong.
He accused critics of the sanctions of false information.
For example, there are people who claim that the oil embargo has caused the price of oil to rise, the EU chief diplomat said.
The price of oil fell after the embargo was passed and is currently at the same level as before the start of the Russian war against Ukraine.
"I wish people would put a number after each of their arguments," Borrell said.
The Russian economic data showed how the sanctions worked - for example those on the production of cars and machines since the beginning of the war.
Borrell received support from the German Minister of State for Europe, Anna Lührmann, who represented Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the EU meeting.
"We can see very clearly that the Russian economy has been hit very hard by the sanctions," said the Green politician.
For example, Russia is no longer making progress in the aviation industry.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was one of the loudest critics of the EU's sanctions policy.
He said in a radio show late last week that the sanctions policy not only failed to live up to the hopes pinned on it, but had the opposite effect.
At first he believed that they had only "shot themselves in the foot", but now it is clear that it was a shot in the lungs of the European economy, which is now struggling for air everywhere.
EU politicians fear that the Kremlin could completely turn off the gas supply to EU countries in retaliation for sanctions.
Despite criticism from countries like Hungary, the EU foreign ministers in Brussels have started discussions on stopping Russian gold imports and other tightened sanctions against Moscow.
It is about closing loopholes in the previous six sanctions packages, said EU chief diplomat Borrell.
At the end of June, the USA and other leading industrialized countries in the G7 group announced a ban on gold imports.
The EU does not import large amounts of gold from Russia, so an embargo would be more symbolic.
The formal sanctions decision is expected later this week and will require unanimity.
Most recently, Hungary delayed an oil embargo against Russia in June.
mmq/AFP/dpa
