The EU sanctions imposed on Russia for its actions during the Ukraine crisis, has caused immense damage to both Russia and Europe, therefore their need to cancel as soon as possible. About this stated the head of the Federal chamber of economy Austria (represents the leading Industrialists and entrepreneurs of the state) Christoph Leitl, said on Thursday, March 3, Rambler News Service. According to him, this step will strengthen the economy of all countries.
He added that the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions led to a significant deterioration in trade relations between Vienna and Moscow. In the list of trading partners of the Republic of Russia moved up 11 places to 15th, while turnover fell by 40 per cent.
In 2015 the Austrian exports of goods reached a record volume, exceeding $ 130 billion. The top ten most important trading partners of Austria are Germany, USA, Italy, Switzerland, France, Czech Republic, Hungary, UK, Poland and China.
In late January, France’s economic Minister Emmanuel macron said that his country intends to contribute to the lifting of economic sanctions against Russia by the summer of this year.
Since March 2014, several countries in the West began to impose sanctions against Russia. Their actions are motivated by conflict in Eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea to the Russian Federation. Measures affected the energy, defense and financial sectors. The adoption of restrictive measures for a period of one year stated in the USA, then similar steps were taken by the European Union. At the end of 2015, the sanctions were extended until 31 July 2016.
In August 2014, Russia in response to sanctions of the EU, USA and other countries imposed food embargo against countries-members of EU, USA, Australia, Canada and Norway. In the summer of 2015 Moscow extended the embargo for one year. In addition, sanctions spread to Albania, Montenegro, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Ukraine (in Kiev the ban came into force in January 2016-one year).
