EU envoys to discuss Russian sanctions rollover on Friday

European Union (EU) flags fly in front of the European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, December 3, 2015. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Envoys from the European Union's member states should discuss rolling over EU sanctions for six months on Friday, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Tuesday.

The ambassadors had planned to confirm the rollover last week but Italy called for a discussion of the issue, holding up the renewal. EU and Italian officials do not expect problems in renewing the sanctions but Prime Minister Matteo Renzi may raise the issue of EU relations with Russia when he meets fellow EU leaders at a summit in Brussels on Thursday evening.