Spotlight: EU links sanctions against Russia to Minsk deals implementation

During the EU summit kicking off here on Thursday, the leaders of the EU members decided to align sanction against Russia over the Ukraine crisis to the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

The economic sanction were due to expire in July unless the EU members agree to prolong it. As members had diversified views on the sanctions against Russia, ahead of the EU summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande brokered the plan of linking the sanctions to the implementation of Minsk agreements.

Brian O'Connell, an Irish writer and former press officer for the European Council on Foreign Relations, said in an article that, taking Ireland for example, its position is that restrictive measures against Russia, coupled with open dialogue and continued political and economic engagement with the various sides in the conflict, would offer the best way of creating the conditions for a breakthrough.

"Although Ireland says that the EU should respond with one voice, its stance locates it alongside Denmark and the Benelux countries, midway between the more hawkish stance of Poland, the Baltic countries, and the United Kingdom and the more cautious position of countries like Greece, Cyprus, and Italy," said O'Connell.

"The longer sanctions go on without achieving the hoped-for improvement in the situation in Ukraine, the deeper the divisions within the West will become. The more likely it will then be that some EU countries will block renewal of sanctions," said a research released in March by think-tank Center for European Reform (CER).

"So far, we have resisted all attempts at dividing us. This is good news. Because divided we are weak, but united we are strong. Therefore, I urge you to refrain from any unilateral actions and to continue to maintain a common position vis-a-vis Russia," said European Parliament President Martin Schulz on Thursday in a speech to the summit.

Schulz also mentioned the difficulties of implementing the Minsk agreements, saying that violence and shelling continue daily and the ceasefire is still fragile. And he urged all parties to stick to their words and follow up on what they have agreed to do, including upholding the ceasefire.

With regard to EU's further steps, Schulz said the EU should certainly continue the twin track approach, that is maintaining the critical pressure through the sanctions regime on Russia while at the same time enhancing support for Ukraine.

"The second track of our crisis management must be that of enhancing support for Ukraine ... more must be done to stabilize Ukraine internally. The European Parliament focuses on the reform process in Ukraine itself," he said.

Schulz said the upcoming Eastern Partnership summit in Riga in May will be a key event, and the European Parliament believes that the Eastern Partnership policy needs to become more focused, more effective, more differentiated, and more targeted on concrete deliverables and results.

The European Commission announced here on Friday that Ukraine joined Horizon 2020 to work with EU in science and research, which meant that researchers, businesses and innovators from Ukraine will be able to fully participate in Horizon 2020, the European Union's research and innovation funding program.

"Ukraine will now have access to the full spectrum of activities funded under Horizon 2020, helping spur its economy. I hope Ukraine will make the most of these opportunities," said Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation.

Horizon 2020 is the first EU program in which Ukraine has chosen to participate following the beginning of provisional application of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. Endit