Credit: europa.ba /  Josep Borrell,  High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission.

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC TIMES

Joseph  Borrell, the European Union’s  foreign policy chief,  said he is “deeply concerned”  at the growing use of sanctions, or the threat of sanctions, by the United States against European companies and interests. Borrell  said the EU bloc has witnessed the  developing trend by the U.S. in the cases of Iran, Cuba, the International Criminal Court and most recently the Nordstream 2 and Turkstream projects. Many EU companies and interests have been caught in the crossfire of U.S. sanctions against the Iran republic, for example . The resumption of US sanctions, in the case of Iran, is causing making it difficult for companies to navigate EU rules  that can make it illegal to comply with the American sanctions.  The U.S. has sanctioned multiple tourist and financial entities in Cuba that have widespread trade with EU bloc companies and interests.  The U.S  Trump Administration recently authorized the imposition of economic sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) officials and family members directly engaged in The Hague, Netherlands-based tribunal’s  efforts to investigate American military personnel for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.  The U.S. has also threatened to sanction any individual or company helping Russia build a controversial natural gas pipeline to Germany as the Kremlin moves to complete the last kilometers of the nearly $11 billion project.  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the measure last week, contending  that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which is nearing completion, threatens to give Moscow economic and political leverage over Europe and undermines EU energy security.  Political observers say the threat of Nordstream 2 sanctions has escalated Trans-Atlantic tensions. 

“As a matter of principle the European Union opposes the use of sanctions by third countries on European companies carrying out legitimate business. Moreover, it considers the extraterritorial application of sanctions to be contrary to international law. European policies should be determined here in Europe not by third countries.”

Joseph Borrell,  High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – European Commission.

Borrell issued a statement Friday expressing his concern over increased U.S. sanctions.  Borrell added:

“Where common foreign and security policy goals are shared, there is great value in the coordination of targeted sanctions with partners. We have seen many positive examples of this and will continue to coordinate where we can. Where policy differences exist, the European Union is always open to dialogue. But this cannot take place against the threat of sanctions.”