The eighth package, currently in draft form and seen by EURACTIV, is being discussed between EU ambassadors this week and is likely to be finalised before an informal EU summit in Prague next Friday, said Bnn-news.
The European Commission proposal might prove particularly heavy for the Russian industry and citizens, as the list of sanctioned companies includes many big names, while restricted products span across multiple key sectors.
While the tensions between the West and Russia have triggered an energy crisis in Europe, the European Commission proposed to hit energy giants Transneft, Rosneft, and Gazprom Neft. The latter is the oil subsidiary of the Gazprom group, which has been at the centre of Moscow’s threat to shut down the gas supply.
Other state-owned companies on the draft sanctions list include defence conglomerates Rostec and Almaz-Antey, machine manufacturers Uralvagonzavod and Kamaz, aerospace companies Oboronprom and United Aircraft Corporation, shipbuilders Sevmash, Sovcomflot, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and United Shipbuilding Corporation.
The list of sanctioned items seems poised to choke Russia’s manufacturing capacity as it touches upon all parts related to any type of vehicle, including cars, motorcycles, trains, vessels, aircraft, and spacecraft, via items such as engines and testing machinery.
All sorts of iron, steel and metal products like pipes, wires and screws are covered, as well as biodiesel, lead, coal and petroleum derivates. These are all items used in all kinds of manufacturing processes.
Similarly, chemical products also feature prominently in the list. Compounds with a concentration of 90% weight or greater of chemicals such as mercury are set to be banned, together with ethanol and butane.
The new sanctions might expand to virtually all semiconductors, essential elements for all kinds of electronic equipment. According to media reports, the Russian military is already in such dire need of this technology that it is reusing semiconductors from kitchen appliances.
Notably, the EU’s executive also proposed sanctioning manufacturers of appliances like refrigerators, dishwashing machines, and water heaters. More broadly, any telecommunication equipment is also covered, including phones, smart cards, cameras, and optical fibre.
We remind, Poland will only help supply oil to Germany's PCK Schwedt refinery if Russia's Rosneft is completely removed as a shareholder, Poland's climate ministry said, raising pressure on Germany to completely nationalize the refiner. Germany took control of the Schwedt refinery, which was majority owned by Rosneft Deutschland, last Friday as Berlin strives to shore up energy supplies. It put Rosneft Deutschland under a trusteeship of the German industry regulator but Rosneft still holds 54% of the company's shares.
mrchub.com