EU appoints international envoy to push sanctions against Russia

The European Commission has decided to appoint a special international envoy to encourage third countries to help enforce sanctions against Russia. Irishman David O’Sullivan will take on that task from the second half of January.

The European Union is paying increasing attention to closing the loopholes in the numerous sanctions it has imposed against Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.

It has thus decided to appoint an international envoy to engage in dialogue with third countries such as Turkey on the enforcement of sanctions.

O’Sullivan is a familiar name in European diplomacy. He was EU ambassador to the United States for five years.

Before that, the Irishman helped set up the European Diplomatic Service and served as secretary general of the European Commission and chief of cabinet to then Commission President Romano Prodi, among other positions.

^{© BELGA PHOTO}