The European Union is considering ways to make member states less likely to use vetoes in negotiations and, after a few weeks, Greece blocked the adoption of the 21st package of sanctions against Russia, requesting an exemption for the Dinagas ships, the Financial Times writes today.
Athens has been seeking for weeks an exemption from sanctions for the Dinagas ships to continue transporting profitable Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), as a condition for Greece to agree to a series of other measures targeting Russia's financial system and oil export revenues.
According to the newspaper, the three officials said work is currently underway to find ways to limit the tactic, which is becoming increasingly common in EU sanctions negotiations as member states seek to protect companies that still do business with Russia.
