Italy opposes EU to impose sanctions over cyber attacks in bid to improve ties with Russia

Italy is resisting a European Union push to impose sanctions on states who carry out cyber attacks, a move that appears in line with Rome's calls to de-escalate tensions with Russia but that could alienate Italy from its EU allies.

Diplomats said the sanctions plan is meant to strengthen EU defences and deterrence against cyber attacks, in particular from Russia, which has been in recent months at the centre of allegations of elections meddling in various Western states as well as security breaches conducted through electronic means.

But Italy has opposed the idea of a new penalty regime, a confidential EU document seen by Reuters shows. The plan has broad support among EU states except for Italy, according to the document.

Italian officials were not immediately available for comment.

Italy has repeatedly urged a relaxation of the sanctions against Russia, which has been the target of a wide range of EU economic penalties since the 2014 Ukraine crisis.

This position has been opposed by the large majority of EU states that have regularly renewed the sanctions regime against Moscow because of its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and continuing support for pro-Russian separatist rebels there.

The proposals for sanctioning cyberattacks were discussed in meetings this week in preparation for an EU summit that will take place next week in Brussels.

"Responding to large-scale cyber attacks from foreign actors, in particular when they are aimed at our elections, is vital," EU Security Commissioner Julian King told Reuters, adding that sanctions should be considered "where appropriate".

Britain, France, Estonia, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland called for the introduction of sanctions, the document shows.

Belgium, Finland and Sweden support a "gradual response" to future attacks that could include a number of measures before sanctions, the document shows.

Rome has long said that existing sanctions are damaging Italian firms trading with Moscow, and calls for de-escalating tensions with Moscow have grown louder since a new anti-establishment government took office in Italy in June.

Matteo Salvini, leader of Italy's co-ruling far-right League, is an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has rejected allegations of Russian meddling in Western elections.

EU diplomats said the plan was also aimed at preventing cyber-attacks from China and North Korea. 

(With inputs from agencies.)