FOREIGN POLICY/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The European Union stands ready to act ‘within days’ if its concerns about the U.S. bill to impose new sanctions on Russia aren’t addressed, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Wednesday [7-26-17].
The bill, which was passed Tuesday, includes provisions allowing President Donald Trump to sanction European companies who work on the development, maintenance, modernization or repair of energy export pipelines—language European officials believe could apply to a range of current energy projects.
The EU executive’s top officials said they would keep a close eye on the legislative process and will be ready to act swiftly if and when needed.
‘The EU is fully committed to the Russia-sanctions regime. However G-7 unity on sanctions and close coordination among allies are at the heart of’ making the measures effective, Mr. Juncker said. ‘The U.S. bill could have unintended unilateral effects that impact the EU’s energy security interests,’ he added.
‘This is why the Commission concluded today that if our concerns aren’t taken into account sufficiently, we stand ready to act appropriately within a matter of days. *America First* cannot mean that Europe’s interests come last,’ Mr. Juncker said”
-Laurence Norman, “EU Cautions U.S. on Russia Sanctions Bill,” The Wall Street Journal online, July 26, 2017 08:00am