EU Concern Over Intensified US Sanctions Against Russia

On Wednesday, August 4, the European Union threatened to respond to the US House of Representatives' sanctions against Russia "within a few days." These sanctions could disrupt Russian oil and gas exports to the EU. According to AFP, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, stated, "The US resolution may have unintended and unilateral consequences that could affect the energy security interests of the EU." He emphasized that the Commission has concluded that if our concerns are not adequately considered, we are prepared to respond appropriately within a few days. Juncker had previously warned the US at the G20 summit that the EU would respond "immediately and appropriately" if the US imposed restrictions on steel. Washington has threatened to limit steel imports under a Cold War-era law due to national security concerns, an action that would impact China and European partners. The sanctions package against Iran, North Korea, and Russia was approved by a majority vote in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday and must also be approved by the Senate. This resolution was designed in response to Moscow's "interference" in the US presidential elections and the annexation of Crimea. The House of Representatives' sanctions package only includes Russian-origin oil and gas pipelines, excluding pipelines from other countries that transit through Russia. However, Brussels is concerned that these sanctions could ultimately affect European companies that have invested in the Russian energy sector. Juncker further stated that while this resolution addresses some of the EU's concerns, any company involved in the development, maintenance, modernization, and repair of energy transmission lines would still be subject to US sanctions. According to the President of the European Commission, these sanctions could impact the infrastructure of energy transmission lines to Europe and Ukraine. The EU is also worried that this law could complicate gas transfer plans from the Baltic countries. The EU accuses Washington of undermining US-EU cooperation in countering Moscow with this unilateral action against Russia. After the annexation of Crimea, the EU and the US imposed sanctions on Moscow in March 2014. The EU also imposed further sanctions on Russia following the downing of a Malaysian passenger plane in eastern Ukraine in July 2014. Russia has denied that pro-Moscow separatists fired the missile and has blamed the Ukrainian government for the incident. Ukraine and the EU hold the separatists responsible for the downing of the plane. In this context, a new sanctions proposal against Iran and Russia was approved by the US House of Representatives. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, reacted to the new sanctions, stating, "It will affect the successful implementation of the JCPOA." President Rouhani stated, "Certainly, we will respond reciprocally to the new sanctions."