Linas Linkiavichus: EU sanctions are effective

EU sanctions are effective and should be used together with political dialogue.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkiavichus declared that as he opened the discussion on the efficiency of the sanctions policy on 18 November in Brussels.

“In the recent decades the European Union came from the comprehensive embargo to applying targeted sanctions, and those are only one of the instruments of the EU’s foreign policy. We are trying not to only use sanctions, but maintain a political dialogue as well, since such a double approach usually justifies itself”, - Lithuania MFA’s press-service quotes from Linkiavichus’ speech.

Lithuania, which is presiding in the EU Council, held debates on the topic “Are the EU’s sanctions effective?” together with the European Policy Center think-tank. The study of four sanctions regime was presented – in Belarus, Iran, Myanmar and Syria, BelaPAN reports.

“The level of the EU’s sanctions has significantly increased in the two past years. Now they are more targeted, are often directed at the most important areas. We should inspect their influence, but the assessment should be backed with results, but not with the numbers of sanctioned people or enterprises”, - Linas Linkiavichus pointed out.

The Minister admitted that sanctions would inevitably influence the EU’s economy, but their logical implementation will not hinder the trade growth with certain countries. He urged the EU to more closely coordinate the actions between EU institutions and the member-states.

The press-service points out that among most often used measures there are arms embargo, financial and economic restrictions, ban from entering the territory of the EU, freezing the assets of persons and enterprises located in the territory of the EU.

Coordinators of the USA Department of State Dan Freed and of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Per Saland, representatives of EU institutions and member-states institutions, NGOs, business, media, experts took part in the discussion.

The Council of the European Union prolonged the restrictive measures against Belarus’ authorities until 31 October 2014. The Council of the European Union kept 232 people and 25 businesses and enterprises, who are forbidden to enter the EU and whose assets are frozen in the territory of the Union.