EU Carrot and Stick Policy: European Union toughens stance on Russian sanctions - by Suzanne Lynch

The European Union voted to suspend visa-liberalisation discussions with Russia, and suspend talks on a new economic cooperation package, but stopped short of imposing asset freezes or travel banks on specific individuals, at an emergency meeting on Ukraine in Brussels. 

In a summit that over-ran by more than two and a half hours, EU member states toughened their language on sanctions, with Germany in particular hardening its stance towards Russia. The US’s decision earlier in the day to implement asset freezes and travel bans on Russian individuals involved in the military incursion into Ukraine, also increased pressure on the EU to act, according to officials. 

Among the actions taken was the decision to suspend bilateral talks with the Russian Federation on visa matters as well as talks on an economic agreement. “We support the decision of the European Members of the G8 and the EU institutions to suspend their participation in G8 Summit preparations until further notice,” the European Council said in a statement. The European Union said it would also decide on “additional measures, such as travel bans, asset freezes and the cancellation of the EU-Russia summit,” should negotiations between Russia and Ukraine not commence and yield results. 

British Prime Minister David Cameron said that asset freezes and travel bans on Russia could happen “relatively quickly” unless progress is made on dialogue with Ukraine. Poland – which was been one of the strongest voices in support of sanctions on Russia – said a decision on travel bans and asset freezes could be made “within days.”

Speaking after the meeting, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the outcome of the summit sent “a strong message to Russia and to President Putin that his actions in Crimea are not acceptable, are not going to be tolerated.” 

Earlier Ukrainian prime minister Arseny Yatseniuk, who met with EU leaders, told reporters that Ukraine was “ready to protect” its country. “In case of further escalation and military intervention into Ukraininan territory by foreign forces, the Ukrainian government and military will act in accordance with the constitution and laws,” Yatseniuk said before leaving for Dublin. 

The meeting of EU leaders in Brussels took place against a background of rapidly changing events. The Crimean parliament announced it was to seek accession to the Russian Federation, and put the decision to referendum on March 16th.

Read more: European Union toughens stance on Russian sanctions - European News | Latest News from Across Europe | The Irish Times - Thu, Mar 06, 2014

Europe’s Carrot-and-Stick Approach to Israel Includes Blacklisting Hezbollah - by James Kanter and Jodi Rudoren

At the end of a week when the European Union slapped Israel with financing restrictions to push it to resolve its conflict with the Palestinians, major European powers on Friday stepped up pressure to give Israel one of its long-sought demands: designating the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

The timing of the carrot-and-stick actions was coincidental, but they illustrated the bloc’s strategy of pushing forward with its own efforts to rein in Israeli actions that undermine the Middle East peace process — and to maintain good relations with Israel, understanding its unique security needs. 

The approach has leading member states like Britain and France making a renewed effort to navigate deep divisions within the Union over the Middle East peace process, in which the United States’ role has long eclipsed that of the Union. 

It may continue to do so. Analysts said the moves by Europe were unlikely to be a game changer in the region, a conclusion seemingly underlined on Friday when Secretary of State John Kerry announced possible Israeli-Palestinian talks in Washington as early as next week. 

On Friday, the Union went ahead with publishing new guidelines banning the financing of, or cooperation with, institutions in territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war, despite an intense Israeli effort to stop them, including phone calls by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a half-dozen European heads of state and consultations with envoys from the British, French and German missions in Israel. 

“We can’t accept the guidelines as they are now,” said a senior Israeli official who described himself and other officials as being engaged in “the European war” this week over the guidelines “They are imposing things we cannot accept.”

Read more: Europe’s Carrot-and-Stick Approach to Israel Includes Blacklisting Hezbollah - NYTimes.com