Brussels is preparing to retaliate against the US if Washington pushes ahead with far-reaching sanctions on Russia that hit European companies.
Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, has called for an urgent review of how Brussels should respond if Europe’s energy sector is targeted by sanctions under discussion in the US Congress. According to a note prepared for a commission meeting on Wednesday, and seen by the Financial Times, Brussels “should stand ready to act within days” if the US measures were “adopted without EU concerns being taken into account”.
US lawmakers reached an agreement on Saturday for sweeping new sanctions to be levied against Russia as Washington seeks to punish Moscow for its reported meddling in last year’s presidential election. The House is expected to vote tomorrow on the legislation, which will be imposed not just on Russia but also on Iran and North Korea.