Russia-Europe "Fish" Tensions Shift: EU Proposal to Ban Russian Seafood Imports Fails
Recently, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Kaja Kallas admitted candidly that the European Commission's previous proposal to comprehensively ban imports of Russian seafood failed to gain support from member states, ultimately leading to its collapse.
In a press briefing following the EU foreign ministers' meeting, Kallas quipped with a hint of irony: "When I first took on this job, I never imagined fish could carry such significant geopolitical weight. To be honest, this 'fish' has indeed derailed quite a few important geopolitical agendas."
According to TASS, the foreign ministers’ meeting has confirmed the complete abandonment of restrictions on Russian fish products. The highly anticipated 21st round of sanctions against Russia once again stalled at this meeting and failed to pass.
Kallas further explained the internal logic behind the EU’s sanction formulation: the European Commission typically proposes the most stringent measures upfront, allowing it to "voluntarily concede" certain contentious clauses during subsequent negotiations, thereby ensuring the final text can be approved after bargaining—a tacit negotiation strategy widely understood among insiders.
Previously, the Commission had advocated for an import ban on Russian cod, but under pressure from member states, the most radical provisions in the new proposal were successively removed. Ultimately, EU member states' permanent representatives still failed to reach consensus on the 21st round of sanctions against Russia.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870646919051264/
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