’Clumsy’ EU fails to reach agreement on Russia sanctions, says MEP

The EU has failed to agree over new sanctions against Russia due to 'clumsy' decision making, Latvian MEP Valdis Dombrovskis has said.

EU member states gave Russia a week to pull out forces from eastern Ukraine or face new sanctions. A NATO satellite image released last week showed Russian forces inside Ukraine. Russia had denied the reports whilst its Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for an immediate cease fire on Monday.

But Dombrovskis, Latvia's former Prime Minister, said EU member states were divided over the issue.

"Slovakia and many other countries have publicly objected against new sanctions," Dombrovskis told Latvian State Radio on Monday, adding that there are disagreements and conflicting opinions among Latvia's officials as well.

"In these circumstances, the EU must consider new sanctions, with the most serious proposal coming from Great Britain - banning Russia from accessing international financial markets. Such sanctions were once imposed against Iran, and they turned out to be efficient enough to return the country to negotiations," Dombrovskis added.

Dombrovskis, a European Commissioner candidate admitted that the decision-making mechanisms are very clumsy in the EU, therefore, it would be useful if all member states could come to a joint agreement on a more simplified mechanism in regard to foreign policy.