INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The European Union has granted itself legal authority to take action against anyone who helps Russia avoid its sanctions, the EU presidency
announced on Monday.According to a statement, member states unanimously agreed that violating restrictive measures against Russia be
considered an "EU crime" across the bloc.This would make it easier to add individuals and entities from countries outside the EU to
sanctions lists set up to punish existing actions such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine.It would also help standardize the interpretation
and enforcement of EU sanctions law across the 27-member union."Currently, member states have different definitions of what constitutes a
violation of restrictive measures and what penalties should be applied in the event of violation," said the statement, issued by the bloc's
sanctioned persons to continue accessing their assets and supporting regimes targeted by EU measures."Following the member states' decision,
