Council to postpone Serbia's candidate status

Iran sanctions

The European Council will endorse a decision by foreign ministers last Thursday (1 December) to impose more sweeping sanctions against Iran by January, in response to the country's alleged bid to acquire or develop nuclear weapons. The leaders are not expected to discuss the specifics of the new type of sanctions, which are currently being prepared by national experts and diplomats for adoption next month. The ministers agreed that the new measures should target Iran's financial system and its transport and energy sectors.

There are deep divisions among the member states on how far the new sanctions should go. France, Germany and the UK are pushing for the complete suspension of financial and energy links with Iran, but other member states, led by Greece, oppose this. Greece has in recent months turned to Iran for much of its imported oil, because other producers are reluctant to deal with Athens out of fear it might not be able to pay. Italy and Spain also have significant oil imports from Iran.