LOBBYING AGAINST RUSSIAN SANCTIONS

Germany

1. Germany says the new sanctions proposed by US lawmakers against Russia are in breach of international law, and is asking the European Union to take countermeasures against the bans, which could also affect European businesses. The German Economy Minister considers considers the new anti-Russia bans approved by US Congressmen as being against international law plain and simple. New US sanctions may harm German companies and hamper Berlin's ties with Washington. There is a possibility of counter-sanctions because this is envisaged by the WTO (World Trade Organization).
2. The Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) indicates that new sanctions against Russia may have a negative impact on Europe’s energy security and hurt the German economy. The European Commission now must make efforts to shed light on the current situation, as well as resist the exterritorial effect of new US penalties. If German firms are banned from participating in gas pipeline enterprises, very important projects in the energy supply security sector can be halted. In that case, the German economy will be discernibly influenced.
3. For the German Foreign Ministry, the sanctions bill concerns not only German industry and sanctions against Russia should not become a tool of industrial policy [pursued] in the US interests. It is the opinion of the German Foreign Ministry that it is not in the Americans’ right to judge or stipulate which way European companies may engage in cooperation with any third parties  particularly with Russian energy companies.

France

The French Foreign Ministry echoed the German sentiments, objecting to the law on the grounds that it affects American companies outside the United States, which it says is outside the scope of US law. In a statement the Ministry warned that "[t]o protect ourselves against the extraterritorial effects of US legislation, we will have to work on adjusting our French and European laws.

Austria

Austria considers the US sanctions against Russia absolutely unacceptable. Political interests should not be mixed up with the economical ones, to the detriment of employment in the European Union.

Italy

Italy is also likely to back countermeasures as the country's largest energy company, Eni, plans to begin drilling in the Russian sections of the Barents Sea and the Black Sea. Approximately 30% of Eni's natural gas is supplied by Russia. These supplies are out of the reach of current sanctions.