Brussels is considering changing the way the European Union adopts sanctions against Russia after Greece delayed a broad package while seeking protections for a domestic shipping company.
European officials are examining whether sanctions should be approved individually or in smaller thematic groups rather than bundled into large packages. Supporters argue that this would reduce the ability of individual member states to block unrelated measures and use their vetoes as leverage.
Athens withheld its approval for several weeks while demanding an exemption allowing vessels operated by Dynagas to continue transporting Russian liquefied natural gas. Greece made the waiver a condition for supporting wider restrictions targeting Russia’s financial system and oil export revenues.
The exemption relates to a measure agreed in October 2025 that would have prohibited the transport of Russian LNG to non-EU countries from January 2027. Dynagas, owned by Greek shipping billionaire George Prokopiou, will now be allowed to continue those shipments.
The dispute delayed measures including tighter restrictions on Russian crude oil revenues, asset freezes on 94 financial institutions and transaction bans involving 33 banks.
Since February 2022, the EU has adopted 21 sanctions packages through unanimous approval by all 27 member states. Measures have often been grouped together to increase political visibility or align announcements with significant dates. However, officials say the package-based approach has become increasingly vulnerable to national vetoes. Objections to a single provision can delay measures that otherwise have broad support.
Greek officials argue that the LNG restriction was poorly designed because it would hurt Dynagas without significantly reducing Russian revenue. They say the business would instead shift to shipowners in China or other non-EU countries.
Other officials caution that large packages help distribute the economic costs of sanctions across member states. Governments may be more willing to accept domestic losses when they can see that other countries are also making concessions.
Will the EU change its sanctions process to stop member states from using vetoes as leverage?
Source: https://www.ft.com/content/33c2e340-8964-4124-b0d7-21851a5d8dcb?syn-25a6b1a6=1
