The European Commission will establish a dedicated sanctions office to coordinate EU efforts to impose economic restrictions on Russia, Commission spokeswoman Siobhan McGarry announced. The new body will oversee the entire sanctions policy cycle, from the development and implementation of restrictions to monitoring compliance and preventing sanctions evasion. The commission said the office aims to increase pressure on Russia and give EU member states faster access to training, data sharing and analysis. The European Union has so far adopted 21 sanctions packages against Russia and is working on the 22nd package. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, previously supported the proposal to establish the office.