“The specific nature of the European Union consists in the need of reaching consensus in making decisions — whether they concern lifting or extending sanctions, which are expiring in March,” Chizhov said, adding that in his view, the European Union had no consensus on the matter of sanctions.
“That is why I have called your attention to a proposal made by (EU Foreign and Security Policy Chief Federica) Mogherini who suggests separating the penalties imposed after the return of Crimea (by Russia) from the rest of the sanctions. I think that this is exactly how the EU political thought is going to develop,” Chizhov added.
Russia will lift its restrictive measures against the EU as soon as the latter revokes its anti-Russian sanctions, Chizhov said. "Russian manufacturers will get an opportunity to occupy places in the market as a result the measures taken in response," he said.
"This doesn`t mean however that Moscow introduced its restrictive sanctions forever because our prohibitions will go as soon as they lift their own sanctions," Chizhov said.
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