Regional imbalance: visa liberalisation for Ukraine, sanctions for Russia

      Today, on the 14^th of December, the Foreign Affairs Council discusses the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, Frederica Morgherini, denied the possibility of a debate on the extension of the economic sanctions against Russia on this level. According to her, there is no dispute regarding this subject among the foreign ministers. This topic will be raised on the summit of the European Council this week. 

      Before today’s foreign ministers meeting, the commissioner for ENP and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, commented the possibility for a non-visa regime for Ukraine as a positive step. There is a high probability that very soon the citizens of Ukraine and Georgia will not need a visa in order to visit the countries of the EU.

When will we stop selling our values?

   Apparently, for the Italian government it is not enough thousands of deaths and ruined lives in the Eastern Ukraine. It is not also enough - the Russian military destroys civilians and necessary for living infrastructure in Syria.
  The six moths extension of the sanctions against the Russia had to be agreed on the meeting EU member states held on the 9th of December. However, Italy opposed, referring to the big economic loses. Of course, it is more convenient to speak out loud your values, keeping your pocket safe. But will it bring any change to the world? How many more lives should “eat” Russian monster, before the European politicians will stop feeding him?