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Possible EU steps in the South Ossetia crisis

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-01 14:42

Here are some of the possible measures which European Union leaders will discuss at an emergency summit on Monday on Russia's intervention in Georgia and its recognition of breakaway regions there.

Related readings:  Russia warns it will respond to 'aggression'  UK's Brown: Europe must act together on Russia  Western sanctions not to isolate Russia: Putin  Russia hits back at Western 'bias'

Sanctions

Analysts and officials acknowledge the scope for sanctions on the bloc's largest supplier of oil and gas is limited and that any action could end up hurting Europe more than it hurts Moscow. Nonetheless there is a push from mainly east European states to consider some of the following options:

Postponement or cancellation of the next round of talks on a wide-ranging new partnership accord between the EU and Russia which was originally set for September 15-16 in Brussels

Steps to curtail some of the 19 low-level negotiations currently being pursued on various aspects of EU-Russia ties

A tightening of visa arrangements for Russians -- a move which advocates say would hit the country's business and political elite

Withdrawing support for Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and putting into question its role in Group of Eight (G8) meetings. However the likelihood of either option has been played down in recent days

Symbolic gestures such as raising "concern" that regional tensions could jeopardise Russia's plans to host the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, just 40 km (25 miles) from the Georgian border.

Help for Georgia

Increased humanitarian and reconstruction aid for Georgia on top of the some 15 million euros ($22.11 million) already pledged by the European Commission and member states

The holding of an international donors' conference to raise further funds

Relaxation of EU visa regulations for Georgians

Further steps to deepen EU-Georgia ties, including a pact to free up trade between Georgia and the wealthy 27-nation bloc

Deployment of EU monitors around the rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to assess compliance with peace accords; longer term steps to a study full-blown peacekeeping mission, currently considered premature by most EU states.