Attempts to impose further sanctions on Russia have moved forward as the European Union agrees to add more names to its list of sanctioned individuals and organizations.

As the 28-nation bloc continues to debate the extent of their sanctions against Russia, they appear closer to reaching an agreement, according to the Wall Street Journal. The E.U. faces the complicated task of having its member countries, each with its own interests, agree on sanctions on Russia that may affect their own economies adversely.

However, they have agreed to impose sanctions on 15 individuals as well as 18 organizations and business on Friday, according to the Associated Press. Among those sanctioned, subjected to travel bans and E.U.-wide asset freezes, are Russian intelligence officers and four members of Russia's delegation to the U.N. Security Council.

The news agency explains that Alexander Bortnikov, head of the Russian Federal Security Service, and Sergei Beseda, head of the FSB department overseeing international operations and intelligence activity have been sanctioned.

Eighteen organizations and companies were also added to the list, among them rebel groups in Ukraine's contested eastern regions, the Associated Press reports, raising the number of Russian individuals and organizations sanctioned to 87.

According to The Guardian, E.U. ambassadors will enact financial sanctions against Russia if pro-Russian rebels continue to obstruct the Flight MH17 crash investigation and Russia does not stop supplying weapons to the rebels.

E.U. ambassadors are currently considering sanctions aimed at Russian banks with more than 50 percent state ownership "from raising capital on European markets" and, if they are applied, they could severely impact the Russian economy, reports The Guardian. However, the U.K.'s economy could also suffer.

Raoul Ruparel, an Open Europe think-tank economist, believes these fears are exaggerated, telling the British newspaper, "Russian business is only a small slice of a very large pie." And, London will be able to handle the hit.

However, the E.U. remains unsure of obstructing the flow of energy between Russia and the bloc, according to Reuters. Whereas oil technology bans will be part of the upcoming sanctions, E.U. nations will "exclude technology for Russia's all-important gas sector," according to E.U. sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, because of "the need to preserve E.U. energy security."