Европейский союз. Брюссель. Фото: reform.news
The Council of the European Union has approved new criteria for imposing sanctions on Belarus. The decision is a response to the incursions of smugglers’ weather balloons into Lithuanian airspace.
“The new criterion will allow the EU to impose restrictive measures against those who plan, direct, engage in support or facilitate foreign information manipulation and interference. Moreover, the EU will be able to sanction individuals and entities engaged in actions targeted at the functioning of democratic institutions, economic activities or services of public interest of the EU and its member states. The EU will also be able to target the unauthorised entry into the territory of a member state
Finally, the new criterion also covers actions aimed at interfering with, damaging or destroying critical infrastructure, as well as widespread or systematic actions resulting in the disruption of such infrastructure,” the press service of the European Council said in a statement.
It is noted that in its conclusions of October 23, the Council of the EU condemned the intensification of hybrid attacks by Russia and Belarus, as well as violations of EU airspace. At the end of October, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas condemned provocations against EU countries.
The statement notes that weather balloons launched from Belarus can carry up to 50 kilograms of payload, fly at altitudes of 8–15 kilometers, and travel at speeds of up to 100–200 kilometers per hour. They pose “security threats, primarily to civil aviation.”
“These incursions into Lithuania’s airspace have disrupted hundreds of flights and inflicted substantial losses to airlines, thousands of travellers, and state authorities. They aim to destabilise an EU member state and to intimidate European citizens through direct threats posed to civilian aviation. The use of these balloons occurs in the context of a broader targeted hybrid campaign, along with other actions that also include state-sponsored migrant smuggling,” the statement said.
No decision to impose sanctions under the new criteria has yet been taken.