site.btaBulgaria Hasn’t Imposed Sanctions on Russia Beyond EU Restrictive Measures

Bulgarian hasn’t imposed national sanctions against Russia beyond EU’s restrictive measures, said Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev in a written reply to MP Bozhidar Bozhanov of Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria".

Since 2014, with the unanimous support of all member states, the EU has adopted 16 sanctions packages against Russia, which have a significant impact on the Russian economy, Georgiev noted. Bulgaria is directly involved in all political and legal discussions on the imposition of EU sanctions. In order to best protect Bulgarian national interests from possible negative consequences of EU sanctions, the Foreign Ministry coordinates every new proposal with all competent national institutions, the Foreign Minister added.

Decisions and regulations imposing EU restrictive measures and terminating existing EU restrictive measures are adopted by the Council of the EU unanimously. EU Regulations are binding and directly applicable to all EU Member States. Bulgaria cannot independently revoke the application of restrictive measures imposed by the EU. The duration of restrictive measures under is set forth in legislation and is usually 12 months, in some cases - six months.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said that the EU may approve more sanctions against Russia in May.