Juncker warns of "appropriate steps" if U.S. sanctions against Russia disadvantage EU firms
                 Source: Xinhua | 2017-08-03 04:52:02 | Editor: huaxia

U.S. President Donald Trump (C) poses for photos with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (1st L) and European Council President Donald Tusk at the European Council headquarters, in Brussels, Belgium, May 25, 2017. (Xinhua/European Union)

BRUSSELS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) is ready to take "appropriate steps" in response to U.S. sanctions against Russia if the bloc's interests are undermined, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Wednesday.

In a statement released by the Commission, Juncker expressed his satisfaction "in principle" that the bill approved recently by the U.S. congress has dropped "a significant proportion" of the intended sanctions against Russia after the EU raised its concerns.

"Moreover, U.S. Congress has now also committed that sanctions will only be applied after the country's allies are consulted," said Juncker.

"I do believe we are still allies of the United States," Juncker said, underscoring that European interests can thus be taken into account in the implementation of any sanctions.

But if not, the president warned that the EU is prepared to take "appropriate steps" in response within days if the U.S. sanctions disadvantage EU companies trading with Russia in the energy sector.

"The sanctions would affect energy transport and the maintenance of pipeline systems in Russia which supply the Ukrainian gas transit system. The new U.S. sanctions could also impact EU efforts to further diversify the energy sector, particularly in the Baltic," said the statement.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law a sanctions bill on Russia, Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), but criticized the bill as "seriously flawed."

Under the bill, companies supporting Russia in building energy export pipelines would be fined. In particular, the bill singled out Nord Stream 2, a project led by Russian energy giant Gazprom in cooperation with five major European energy companies.

Nord Stream 2 aims to expand an existing gas pipeline from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.

In retaliation for the new sanctions legislation, Moscow had already ordered the U.S. diplomatic mission in Russia to cut its staff by 755 people.

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Juncker warns of "appropriate steps" if U.S. sanctions against Russia disadvantage EU firms

Source: Xinhua 2017-08-03 04:52:02

U.S. President Donald Trump (C) poses for photos with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (1st L) and European Council President Donald Tusk at the European Council headquarters, in Brussels, Belgium, May 25, 2017. (Xinhua/European Union)

BRUSSELS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) is ready to take "appropriate steps" in response to U.S. sanctions against Russia if the bloc's interests are undermined, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Wednesday.

In a statement released by the Commission, Juncker expressed his satisfaction "in principle" that the bill approved recently by the U.S. congress has dropped "a significant proportion" of the intended sanctions against Russia after the EU raised its concerns.

"Moreover, U.S. Congress has now also committed that sanctions will only be applied after the country's allies are consulted," said Juncker.

"I do believe we are still allies of the United States," Juncker said, underscoring that European interests can thus be taken into account in the implementation of any sanctions.

But if not, the president warned that the EU is prepared to take "appropriate steps" in response within days if the U.S. sanctions disadvantage EU companies trading with Russia in the energy sector.

"The sanctions would affect energy transport and the maintenance of pipeline systems in Russia which supply the Ukrainian gas transit system. The new U.S. sanctions could also impact EU efforts to further diversify the energy sector, particularly in the Baltic," said the statement.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law a sanctions bill on Russia, Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), but criticized the bill as "seriously flawed."

Under the bill, companies supporting Russia in building energy export pipelines would be fined. In particular, the bill singled out Nord Stream 2, a project led by Russian energy giant Gazprom in cooperation with five major European energy companies.

Nord Stream 2 aims to expand an existing gas pipeline from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.

In retaliation for the new sanctions legislation, Moscow had already ordered the U.S. diplomatic mission in Russia to cut its staff by 755 people.

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