This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. On Wednesday, EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis was asked for examples of where the EU's proposed new anti-extortion instrument could work. The bloc has so far struggled to respond to blackmail attempts by third countries.
The EU would be able to impose counter-sanctions on individuals, companies and entire countries because of the new law. The EU should be allowed to fight back as an entity against or for one of its members if they find themselves in a difficult position. The EU would have the ability to act as a foreign policy decider because of the highly sensitive draft law. It gives Brussels the right to fight if one of its members feels threatened.
The move by Brussels will be carefully monitored by China, Russia and the USA as the three major power players will have to think twice before imposing sanctions on the EU or any of its nations. The EU treaties require the unanimous consent of the member states to impose sanctions on countries. Individual heads of state and government such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban have vetoed EU decisions when it comes to China. The decision on using the anti-extortion instrument should be left to the Commission and states could only be able to prevent it if there is a qualified majority in the Council of Ministers. READ MORE: Fury erupts as Macron accuses of hijacking the EU presidency for his own goals.
German media wakes up to the reality of the EU deal REVEAL Greece blows top at EU and warns Russia gas reliance is 'unavoidable' COMMENT The trade commissioner said that the Commission had to decide on a case-by-case basis whether there could be talk of economic blackmail of states. This could take various forms including threatening tariffs and deliberately slow clearance of goods at the border. The instrument can only come into force if the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers agree to it. The move was met with broad support in the European Parliament on Wednesday.