Options Before the EU
One possibility is renegotiating the package to address Greek concerns. Officials have not publicly identified which maritime activities Athens seeks to protect, but Greece has historically maintained a significant shipping industry. Greek-flagged vessels have continued commercial operations that Brussels has sought to restrict, and renegotiation could involve exempting certain maritime activities or delaying implementation of contested provisions.
Another path would see the EU pursue non-binding measures, such as diplomatic pressure or voluntary agreements with member states. While such steps would not carry the legal force of a sanctions package, they could allow the bloc to demonstrate political will without requiring unanimous consent.
Officials confirmed that splitting the package is also under consideration. Under this approach, the EU would adopt those provisions that have unanimous support while setting aside contested elements. The bloc has used this method before, notably with the 11th sanctions package in June 2023, which focused on anti-circumvention measures. That precedent shows that partial adoption can move forward even when full unanimity is elusive.
If no compromise is reached, the package could be delayed indefinitely, weakening the EU’s leverage over Russia. The European Council, composed of member state leaders, may discuss the issue at its next summit, scheduled for June 2025. That summit offers a deadline of sorts, but the record shows that EU sanctions work on their own timeline, and delays have consequences for the bloc’s credibility as a unified actor.
Strategic Stakes and the Unanimity Debate
The Greek veto also raises the possibility of legal challenges or calls for treaty reform to eliminate the unanimity requirement for sanctions. This is not a new debate within the bloc. The unanimity rule has long been a source of friction, particularly on matters of foreign policy and sanctions, where a single member state can block collective action.
The European Union functions as a supranational entity that combines features of a federation and a confederation. Integration began with six states following the Second World War. These nations established bodies like the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community. Over time, these organizations merged and expanded. The union officially formed in the early 1990s through the Maastricht Treaty. Since then, the bloc has grown in size and authority, though the United Kingdom departed in 2020.
The union operates an internal single market that allows for the free movement of capital, goods, services, and people. Member states agree to act as one in specific policy areas, including common rules for trade, agriculture, and fisheries. Some members also share a single currency within the eurozone. The EU manages external relations and defense through the Common Foreign and Security Policy and maintains diplomatic missions globally, holding representation at the United Nations and the G20.
Because the union relies on member state agreement for certain actions, the ability of one nation to block a proposal can affect the bloc’s collective influence on the world stage. The veto on the Russia sanctions package illustrates that dynamic in real time.
Greece’s Maritime Interests and the Broader Context
EU officials have not publicly specified which maritime activities Greece seeks to protect, but Athens has historically maintained a significant shipping industry. Greek-flagged vessels have continued commercial operations that Brussels has sought to restrict. The tension reflects a broader challenge for the EU: balancing the economic interests of individual member states with the collective foreign policy objective of isolating Russia.
What comes next depends on whether the Commission and Council can find a formula that satisfies Athens without gutting the package’s intended effect. The June 2025 summit offers a deadline, but the record shows that EU sanctions work on their own timeline. Delays not only weaken the bloc’s immediate leverage over Russia but also risk damaging the perception of unity that has been a central feature of the EU’s response since the conflict began. For now, the institutions must weigh renegotiation, non-binding alternatives, and partial adoption as they seek a way forward.
