EU unveils tough sanctions to curb Russia's shadow fleet
The European Union is tightening controls on Russia's ability to sell oil. On Tuesday, it adopted restrictions on ships from the so-called shadow fleet.
"The EU has adopted the 17th package of sanctions targeting Russia. These include measures to further complicate the Kremlin's oil sales (with restrictions on 150 shadow fleet ships) and enhance regulation over the export of technologies and goods used for military purposes," reported journalist Dorota Bawołek.
This decision means that these vessels will be prohibited from docking at European ports.
Russia employs old tankers to transport oil, selling it at higher prices than those set by the West. The condition of these ships poses an environmental risk and could lead to disasters such as oil spills. There are also suspicions that Russia uses these "ghost ships" to damage underwater cables.
This is the second package of sanctions negotiated during Poland's presidency of the EU Council.
Approximately 80% of Russian crude oil and petroleum products are transported through waters belonging to the European Union and G7 countries (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Japan). A full 60% of maritime oil exports pass through the Baltic Sea.
Despite the sanctions previously imposed by the Western coalition countries on Russia, it continues to profit from oil, effectively bypassing restrictions.
A year ago, Prime Minister Donald Tusk highlighted the danger of ships "working" for Russia, sailing on the Baltic Sea.
"The problem—and I say this as someone who was born by the Baltic Sea and for whom the Baltic is immensely important—is that environmental protection is not a pretext to stop these ships from entering the Baltic. The Baltic is under threat from Russia on many levels concerning environmental protection issues," stated the head of the Polish government.
The United Kingdom and European Union countries have long expressed their intention to combat them. However, successes in this area have been limited.
Some countries have revised their laws to more effectively combat ships carrying Russian oil. Estonia, for instance, has passed a law that grants the country's navy the authority to use force against ships in the Baltic Sea if they are deemed to pose a threat to national security.
