Bulgaria to Block New EU Sanctions Package Against Russia, PM Radev States
Bulgaria’s Position on EU Sanctions Against Russia
Government’s Rationale for Veto
BRUSSELS, June 18 (Reuters) - Bulgaria will veto the latest European Union package of sanctions against Russia because it may have a negative impact on its economy and because the government disagrees with sanctions against a Russian bishop, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on Thursday.
Details of the Expanded EU Sanctions
The EU expanded its sanctions list on Monday, adding 34 individuals and 47 entities linked to Russia's military and industrial complex, its shadow fleet of oil and gas tankers and others involved in political interference activities, including a bishop in the Russian Orthodox Church.
Economic Concerns and Impact on Bulgarian Companies
"There is a significant risk to the operation of Lukoil," Radev told reporters ahead of a European Council meeting in Brussels, referring to the Russian oil company that is one of the largest motor fuel retailers in Bulgaria and runs the country's sole refinery, Burgas.
Request for Exclusion from Sanctions List
"We want it to be excluded from the list," said Radev, a pro-Russian eurosceptic who won a parliamentary election in April after stepping down from Bulgaria's largely ceremonial presidency to run in the vote.
Potential Disruptions to Other Sectors
He also cited potential disruption to the supply of spare parts for the Sofia Metro and of fertilisers.
Broader Implications of Sanctions
"All these matters will have to be addressed within the EU's decision-making bodies," Radev said. "In what way have these sanctions so far stopped the war? And in what way have they helped peace at all?"
Sanctions Against Russian Religious Figures
Radev said that Bulgaria does not agree with the sanctions against dignitaries of the Russian Church.
"This war has already moved beyond the trenches; it extends beyond economics and energy, we can see its impact on culture and sports and now it only remains for it to engulf religion as well."
Bulgaria’s Support for Ukraine’s EU Accession
However, Radev said that Bulgaria would not obstruct the EU's common decisions on Ukraine.
"We will support the process of negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the EU," he said.
(Reporting by Alex Lefkowitz, writing by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
