BERLIN, December 28. /TASS/. The European Union is preparing new packages of anti-Russian restrictions and the existing system of constraints will be expanded and revised to prevent their circumvention, a spokesman of the German Economy Ministry told reporters at a briefing.

"We have currently approved in Brussels the 12th package of sanctions and new packages will follow," the spokesman said. "It means the system of sanctions will be expanded and improved; possibilities of circumventing [restrictive measures] will be identified and curbed," he added.

"The sanctions regime against Russia, from the standpoint of the German government, is very efficient," a spokesman of the German Cabinet said at the briefing. "It is also correct that Russia found other beneficiaries for its oil but this is not the reason to abandon measures," he added.

On December 18, the European Union approved the twelfth package of anti-Russian sanctions.