Wicklow, Ireland, Sept. 2, 2026 (Lusa) - The Portuguese minister of foreign affairs stated on Wednesday that there is a «very broad consensus» for the European Union (EU) to adopt a «very stringent package of sanctions» against Russia, suggesting that it could be approved in October.
«There was a broad consensus to proceed with a very stringent package of sanctions, essentially targeting individuals – and this could number more than a thousand – as well as companies,» said Paulo Rangel in comments to the Lusa news agency at the end of the informal meeting of EU ministers of foreign affairs in Wicklow, Ireland.
The Portuguese minister considered that these sanctions, which specifically target individuals and companies, «have proved to be the most effective, because they have an impact on the lives of decision-makers in the Russian Federation».
«Therefore, they lead them to find themselves in a more difficult situation and to rethink, perhaps eventually in the long term, the Russian Federation's position,» he said.
Paulo Rangel pointed out that the EU already has «many individuals and companies under sanctions», but indicated that, in this specific case, «it would be a truly very, very large package».
«The plan now is to present it at the Foreign Affairs Council in October: it is being prepared by then, reviewed by the member states by then, and taken to that Council. Therefore, in October, this 22nd package would, in principle, be ready for adoption,» he said.
Asked whether he feared that, during negotiations on this sanctions package, divisions might arise that could delay its approval and weaken its scope – as happened with the 21st package approved in July – Rangel said that, if these sanctions were limited to listing companies and individuals, it would be «simpler».
«If other types of sanctions are introduced, then the same thing will happen as with all the previous packages,» he said, noting that it is normal for there to always be «one, two or three countries» that have reservations when sanctions packages include measures relating to specific economic sectors.
«Sometimes there are direct effects on European sectors that will not affect the Russians but will harm European companies. Therefore, it is this trade-off that has explained, throughout the 21 packages, why there is always a debate: each member state obviously has its own interests and its own sectors,» he said.
The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, indicated in August that she would present the «most ambitious ever» sanctions package against Russia, suggesting it could target around 1,600 individuals and entities within the Russian military-industrial complex.
This informal meeting in Wicklow is taking place at a time of high tension with Russia, after the German government on Tuesday blamed Moscow for the attempted attack at Leipzig Airport on 4 August, carried out using a drone laden with explosives.
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