اروپا تودی: آیا یونان بسته جدید تحریم‌های روسیه اتحادیه اروپا را متوقف می‌کند؟

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اروپا تودی: آیا یونان بسته جدید تحریم‌های روسیه اتحادیه اروپا را متوقف می‌کند؟  اتحادیه اروپا برای تصویب بسته تازه تحریم‌ها علیه روسیه شتاب دارد اما یونان به طور غیرمنتظره آن را مسدود کرده است. یک سال پس از توافق تجاری بحث‌برانگیز با آمریکا، پیامدهای آن بر اروپا و تصمیم اخیر ترامپ برای تعرفه ۵۰ درصدی بر کالاهای کانادایی بررسی می‌شود.  لب بیشتر : http://parsi.euronews.com/2026/07/22/europe-today-will-greece-derail-the-eus-latest-russia-sanctions  مشترک شوید: یورونیوز به یازده زبان دیگر در دسترس شماست

Transcript

00:14Good morning, it's Wednesday the 22nd of July. I'm Marit Gwynne and you're watching Europe Today, your morning dose of

00:23European news and analysis broadcast live here from Brussels.

00:27Coming up on today's show, the European Union is in a race against time to approve a new package of

00:34economic sanctions against Russia.

00:36But Greece has unexpectedly vetoed the proposals over a separate ban on Russian liquefied natural gas. We'll bring you more

00:45details on that story.

00:46And also, it's been a year now since the US and the EU sealed a trade deal designed to put

00:53an end to disputes and tensions.

00:55That deal imposed 15% tariffs on European goods, while the EU removed duties on most US industrial products.

01:04But one year on, US President Donald Trump is renewing tariff threats against allies and rivals alike.

01:10We'll have more analysis on that for you.

01:13And also, the US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that the war with Iran has cost the US $37

01:20.5 billion as strikes continued for the 11th consecutive night last night.

01:27President Trump has meanwhile vowed support to Lebanon in a meeting with the country's president in the White House yesterday.

01:33We'll have the latest for you from the Middle East.

01:37In other news, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has replaced Oleksandr Sirsky with Mikhail Drapatiou as Ukraine's commander-in-chief.

01:47It follows days of widespread protests in Ukraine and also pressure coming from civil society.

01:55But first, this morning, we're going straight to our top story because EU ambassadors are meeting today here in Brussels

02:01in a new attempt to strike a deal on fresh sanctions against Russia.

02:05But this entire package is being held up by one single country, and that's Greece.

02:11To explain more, Jorge Liborero, our correspondent, is here in the studio with us.

02:16Really good to have you this morning, Jorge.

02:18So, big story today in Brussels.

02:20Tell us first about Greece's demands here.

02:23So, why are they blocking this package?

02:25Yes, hello, Marit.

02:27Big story indeed.

02:28But to understand this story, let me take you back to October last year.

02:32So, in October last year, member states, the 27th, unanimously agreed to ban the import and transport of Russian LNG.

02:41This was held as, you know, as a landmark decision.

02:45Pressure on Russia, you know, we're doing away with Russian LNG as of 2027.

02:50So, as of January 2027, no more Russian LNG in the European market.

02:56Now, what's happening during the discussions of this new package of sanctions is that Greece has realised that the ban

03:04on transport is a problem for them.

03:06We need to remember that Greece is a coastal country which hosts the largest merchant fleet in the world.

03:13So, maritime industry is really big in Greece.

03:15And Greece is saying that they need to continue the transport of Russian LNG because this provides market opportunities, sustains

03:24local jobs, and obviously brings a lot of money every month.

03:28So, Greece is saying that the ban on transport needs to be revised and transport of Russian LNG needs to

03:34continue next year onwards.

03:36And, Jorge, we know that the Greek demands are closely linked to the industry, as you said, including Dynagas, which

03:44is a major shipping company.

03:46It's owned by a Greek billionaire, George Prokopiu.

03:49And it's worth saying that he is also linked to another company that actually transports Russian oil.

03:55So, what does Dynagas say here about the LNG ban?

03:59So, indeed, Dynagas controls the market of LNG, but also transport of Russian oil.

04:05So, we need to keep that in mind.

04:07But when it comes to LNG, Dynagas provides very specialised tankers that go into Siberia.

04:14Because in Siberia, we have the Yamal facility, which is Russia's largest, and mainly provides European clients with LNG, but

04:22also clients worldwide.

04:23And Dynagas has chartered 11 vessels to Yamal in Siberia.

04:29So, these vessels are, as I said, highly specialised.

04:32They break the ice.

04:33They sustain sub-zero temperatures.

04:35So, very complex conditions there.

04:37So, what Dynagas is saying that if we stop the transport of Russian LNG, this would be a self-inflicted

04:43blow to Europe's maritime capacity.

04:46This is a literal quote from a statement that the company sent last week.

04:50The company also said that the ban will fail to achieve its geopolitical objectives, meaning the crippling Russia's war machine.

05:00And the company, very notably, has raised the prospect of defaulting on its debt agreements if this ban on transport

05:08takes place.

05:09And we can now see the quote indeed sent by the company last week, which, by the way, these arguments

05:17that we see on camera closely align with the Greek government just now saying here in Brussels.

05:23So, we see a lot of synchrony between Dynagas and Athens.

05:27And, Jorge, we know then that Greece for now is holding firm on its demands.

05:32What has been the reaction from other EU countries?

05:36Look, how could I put this kindly?

05:38Well, I'm not going to put it kindly.

05:40I'm just going to say that there's a lot of frustration, even fury with Greece, because I need to really

05:45stress this.

05:46Greece is trying to revise a ban that was unanimously agreed last year and became EU law.

05:52This is EU law.

05:53It's not part of the new package of sanctions that is on the table.

05:56It's already EU law.

05:59And Greece now wants to retroactively challenge the content of this legislation.

06:05So, for all the member states, this is a massive problem because they fear that if we grant Greece's request,

06:12then there will be a dangerous precedent set.

06:15And, you know, all the member states will come up with similar requests.

06:19Oh, I want to revise this.

06:21I want to check this law, reopen this text, give me this, give me that.

06:25So, it could be a massive problem, cascade of requests.

06:27And finally, Jorge, you know, we know there's also this price cap on Russian oil, which will be automatically revised

06:35up tomorrow, I believe, unless the EU actually agrees on this new package of sanctions.

06:40So, I guess this Greek veto is also threatening that and could see Moscow even gain more revenues on its

06:48oil purchases.

06:48Yes, indeed.

06:49All things are coming together.

06:51Now, the Greek veto and this revision of the price cap that, as you said, will go up if we

06:55don't delay it, which is the intention to delay it.

06:58But for the time being, it's still there.

07:01The revision will take place on Thursday.

07:03But what I can see is that if the Greek veto remains in place, proves insurmountable, you know, that Athens

07:11really holds its ground and doesn't allow this to pass unless it gets an exemption.

07:17I think the price cap on Russian oil could be delayed just to September.

07:22So, then in September, after the summer break, we'll come back to this, the unfinished business, and try to have

07:28a deal and try to have Greece on board.

07:30But as I said, there's a lot of uncertainty right now.

07:32The Greek veto is really powerful because this maritime industry is essential for the country.

07:38But at the same time, the other 26 member states do not want to grant this request because of the

07:43precedent that it could set.

07:44So, we're in for a fight today with the ambassadors.

07:47Okay, Jorge, well, we will keep an eye out on those talks happening today, of course, in Brussels.

07:52Thank you so much for that analysis and for bringing us up to speed there.

07:57Now, we're moving on to the Middle East next.

07:59The U.S. has continued to attack Iran for the 11th consecutive night, as the U.S. Defense Secretary, Pete

08:06Hexeth, revealed that the war has now cost the U.S. $37.5 billion.

08:11Let's get the latest now from our correspondent, Adil Halim, who is in Qatar for us.

08:17Good morning, Adil. Great to see you again.

08:20Listen, also yesterday, President Trump met Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun at the White House.

08:26Tell us what came out of that meeting.

08:30Good morning, Mara.

08:31This is the biggest diplomatic development we've seen in the Israel-Lebanon conflict in months.

08:36President Joseph Aoun came to Washington looking for U.S. support to stabilize Lebanon.

08:41After months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, the focus was the U.S.-backed ceasefire framework.

08:47Lebanon wants a full Israeli withdrawal from the south, more support for the Lebanese army,

08:52and for the Lebanese state, not Hezbollah, to control southern Lebanon.

08:56Now, President Trump says Washington remains committed to this process.

09:00And he also added that Lebanon has been a very mistreated country for a long period of time.

09:05And, quote, we're going to solve a lot of problems.

09:08Marit?

09:08Okay, so big promises from the U.S. president there.

09:12Meanwhile, Adil, I know you're following developments there across the region.

09:17What's the latest this morning?

09:21That's right.

09:22The U.S. has now completed 11 consecutive nights of attacks on Iran.

09:26And there are a few signs that this conflict is easing anytime soon.

09:30Perhaps the biggest development came overnight in Washington.

09:33President Trump says the U.S. has no interest in talks with Iran, and even though he insists, Tehran is

09:39desperate to negotiate.

09:40At the same time, Defense Secretary Pete Hegsitt told Congress that the war has already cost $37.5 billion and

09:48asked lawmakers to approve another $67 billion in funding for our campaign.

09:53The dialogue between him and Democratic senators was very testy during this exchange.

09:58And that request is likely to raise questions about how long Washington expects this conflict to continue.

10:04Meanwhile, Iran says it carried out new attacks on military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait, while both countries say they

10:10intercepted missiles and drones overnight.

10:13Now, also, the Iran-backed Houthis are also threatening commercial shipping in the Red Sea, and that's already adding to

10:20the concerns over in the Strait of Hormuz, where vessel traffic continues to fall.

10:25So, while diplomacy is making some progress between Israel and Lebanon, the wider regional situation is definitely moving in the

10:33opposite direction.

10:34We're seeing more military action, increasing economic pressure, and there's no clear sign that the fighting between Washington and Tehran

10:42will slow down anytime soon.

10:45Mared?

10:45Okay.

10:46Adel Halim in Qatar for us.

10:48Thank you so much for bringing us up to speed this morning.

10:51Now, moving on.

10:53One year after the EU struck a controversial trade deal with the United States, imposing 15% tariffs on European

11:01goods under Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, what has been the impact on Europe's economy?

11:07Well, new data suggests the cost of those tariffs has been felt on both sides of the Atlantic.

11:14European companies have, of course, taken a hit, but so too, and to a significant extent, have American firms.

11:20For more on this, let's bring in our EU editor, Maria Tadeo, who's with me in the studio this morning.

11:25Good to see you.

11:26Listen, this deal was meant to draw a line under disputes, uncertainty, tensions.

11:31Can we say that it's done that?

11:32Look, it's a difficult question to answer, and also just how time flies.

11:37It was this time last year that Ursula von der Leyen got on a plane, she landed in Scotland, went

11:42to President Trump's golf complex in the country, and agreed to these new terms.

11:49And in a way, I find it difficult to call it a trade deal, because we know it was not

11:53a negotiation.

11:55You've spoken to European officials, I've spoken to European officials, many of which will tell you privately, even though the

12:01Commission and the EU still defends the deal, they'll say it really wasn't a negotiation.

12:06Ultimately, there was a binary choice that the Europeans had to face, confront, and ultimately decide.

12:13One was, should we enter this trade war with the U.S.?

12:17Of course, this is a big market.

12:18The EU does have trade power behind it, and they could enter a tit-for-tat the same way that

12:24China did, ultimately, or just take this 15% tariff, which is not a trivial thing.

12:30Tariffs tripled on European companies going into the U.S. market.

12:34Remember, before Liberation Day, you were looking at around 5%.

12:37That was certainly the average.

12:39But again, the choice that Europeans faced was to enter this trade war, ultimately accept the 15%, but also setting

12:45up this precedent, in which it can never go above 15%.

12:48Obviously, that had a hit for European companies.

12:52We've spoken about some of the extra difficulties that they faced.

12:55But when you look at the data, this is very striking.

12:58The turnover in terms of trade between the U.S. and the European Union actually increased in 2025 to hit

13:051.8 trillion euros.

13:06The number, of course, is enormous, and it really reflects just the magnitude of this bilateral relationship.

13:13One thing that I would say, given, again, who is foot in the bill, that's ultimately the question, is numbers

13:18may have gone up because companies were really rushing to get a lot of their stuff across the Atlantic before

13:24the tariffs kicked in.

13:25So, 2026 should give us a complete picture.

13:28But to go back to your question, I think ultimately at this point, yes, tariffs tripled on European companies.

13:33The exemptions that the Europeans were hoping to get on real staple products like cheese, milk, pastes, about 115 euros

13:41that they're looking to get in exemptions, did not manifest.

13:44So, obviously, that means prices have to go up.

13:46But what is interesting, as European officials tell us, a year later, it's actually the U.S. importers that have

13:52paid the most in these tariffs.

13:54Before the Liberation Day tariffs came in, it was around 8 billion euros, the duty cost.

13:58Now it's standing at over 31 billion, so you're looking at almost four times the amount that they were paying.

14:05So, yes, it hits both sides, but also you see that the Americans have also taken a hit, and it's

14:09American companies that ultimately also pay for this.

14:13And Maria, we know that there's still 50% tariff, for example, on steel and aluminium.

14:18And the U.S. continuing to link this to some regulatory movements on the U.S. side.

14:23Yeah, absolutely, because there's a number of issues, of course, that came along with the 15%.

14:28The Europeans insisted that they wanted to see steel and aluminium go down for 50%.

14:33One thing to keep in mind for our viewers is once you go above that 5-0, it's a huge

14:38number, basically, it becomes impossible to sell anything because it is just too expensive.

14:44So the Europeans have been asking for relief on that front, and they've also been asking for a quota, for

14:49duty-free, essentially, to go bigger, to become incremental.

14:53That has not happened, and it is crucial for the Europeans to ease some of those tariffs.

14:58The Europeans also insist, and this is the case that they make before the U.S. administration, that this is

15:02about really together tackling China.

15:05They argue the issue, especially when it comes to steel overcapacity, is the Chinese, it's not the Europeans, so they

15:11should work together.

15:12The problem that they face is, A, the administration has not moved an inch on those two items.

15:18This is part of the Make America Great Again agenda to bring in those industrial jobs into the U.S.

15:23This is what the president of the U.S. wants to see, manufacturing jobs back in the United States of

15:29America.

15:29And then, three, as you say, the administration, in a way that is cunning, but it's also ruthless, and at

15:34times, frankly, it seems to work,

15:37is to say, if you want any form of relief, then you need to also give us regulatory relief.

15:43The issue for the Europeans is that this has nothing to do with tariff rates.

15:47It really is about politics, it's about sovereignty, and it's also how you interpret and apply the law of the

15:53land.

15:54And, of course, Merit, we could see another flashpoint, because, as you know, speculation is rampant in the city,

15:59that we could see a fine announced, maybe even this week, on Google around $1 billion.

16:05That could certainly escalate tensions between the two of them.

16:08Indeed.

16:08And, meanwhile, also this week, we are, in fact, hearing reports, at least, that Donald Trump, the U.S. president,

16:14is thinking, at least, of unleashing more tariffs.

16:17Canada already in the line of fire.

16:19Are the Europeans worried about this?

16:21Well, certainly, because this is part of a bigger strategy.

16:24The 15% tariff, and just really taking that hit to a relationship that, basically,

16:29when you looked at the numbers before the tariffs came into being last year, it was pretty broad, right?

16:34And it was balanced between the Europeans.

16:35They accepted this in exchange for a form of relief.

16:39They always argued, look, it wasn't just straight.

16:41There were a lot of things on the table.

16:43The geopolitics were also there.

16:44And this was a way of, quote, unquote, paying for insurance.

16:48The issue that we see is that the U.S. has a strategy that is clearly bait and switch.

16:52They will turn them on and off, depending on the kind of concessions that they want from allies.

16:58From the Canadians have been complaining that they do not buy enough U.S. products,

17:02that their relationship is stilted in favor of Canada, and now they've been hit with 50% tariffs.

17:05At that point, that is prohibitive.

17:07This is a real political crisis now for the Canadian prime minister.

17:11When it comes to the Europeans, as you say, the administration said it overnight yesterday,

17:15yes, expect action coming in in the tariff front,

17:18because they've had to tweak some of the construction, the structure of the tariffs,

17:23because some of them were struck down by the U.S. Constitutional Court.

17:26So they now expect to put forward new tariffs using different sections that could see more products,

17:31and also the Europeans hit by it.

17:33I think one of the things that the Europeans know, and they know this very well,

17:37is that ultimately this is going to be a constant with the Trump administration.

17:41What you can do is hope for the best, but also say we have a capacity and an ability to

17:45retaliate.

17:46We talked about the anti-coercion instrument.

17:48That is certainly on the table that the Europeans can use.

17:51The question is, are they ready to use it, given that they did not want to fight a trade war

17:54last year,

17:55but also, Merit, the focus for the Europeans now is China.

17:58Do you want to take on two big blocks?

18:00And very, very briefly, Maria, on China, we are expecting by October some movement.

18:06Massive deadline, yes.

18:07Look, it's a deadline October by the Europeans.

18:10They want to see the trade relationship become more balanced.

18:13There's been a massive trade deficit with the Chinese.

18:15The trade surplus from the Chinese to the world is now a trillion dollars.

18:19That is unsustainable.

18:21And mathematically, it simply cannot continue at some point.

18:24It would be too tilted in favor of China.

18:26The Europeans, however, they've set out this deadline, but it's a difficult deadline

18:29because if there's no rebalancing and there's no action from the Chinese and they take no action,

18:34they will look weak.

18:35If they decide to put forward measures to protect industries in Europe,

18:39well, the Chinese, you best believe, will retaliate.

18:41So both ways, you're looking at a difficult fall.

18:43We are indeed.

18:45Thank you so much, Maria, for that analysis for us one year on after that trade deal was struck

18:50between the U.S. and the EU.

18:52But that brings our program for today to an end.

18:55Thank you so much for your company this morning.

18:57Remember, we also love to hear from you.

18:59You can send us comments, feedback or tips.

19:01Our email address is eruptoday at euronews.com.

19:05In the meantime, see you soon here on Euronews and take care.

19:43We'll see you soon here on Euronews and take care.

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