Copyright © 2024 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

Politico: EU seeks action to stop illegal exports of Western goods to Russia

The European Commission has notified EU countries of the problem of illegal exports to Russia, which has been exploiting sanctions loopholes to fuel its war machine.
Plastic letters arranged to read “Sanctions” are placed in front flag colors of the European Union and Russia. Credit: Reuters
Politico: EU seeks action to stop illegal exports of Western goods to Russia

The European Union is demanding that governments urgently stop the illegal exports of goods to Russia close sanctions loopholes, according to Politico.

Ukrainian experts are constantly finding sanctioned components of Western companies in high-tech Russian weapons that fall into the hands of the Ukrainian military. Russia manages to circumvent the sanctions and import the goods needed to produce weapons.

In a letter from the European Commission, seen by Politico, the EU countries were warned of the need for “immediate, concerted and decisive action” to prevent the flow of Western goods to Russia.

European Commissioner for Finance Mairead McGuinness and European Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis, who signed the letter, told Politico they would soon share detailed information on where companies are evading sanctions. McGuinness and Dombrovskis said they would contact the European governments by mid-April to assess the measures taken.

Insider: GRU officer in Brussels funnels military exports to Russia

According to the information in the letter from the European Commission, exports of banned goods from the EU to non-EU countries have risen from €3 billion before the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine to €5.6 billion by mid-2023. The letter stipulated that this increase compensated for the loss of legal trade in these goods with Russia before the war.

The letter from the European Commission ordered governments of the EU countries to bring to justice EU companies that actively undermine European sanctions and to use penalties to deter such companies from exploiting sanctions loopholes.

FT: Russia still imports one-third of essential war tech from Western companies

According to Politico, the European Commission is studying the possibility of creating an EU body to enforce sanctions, effectively taking this work away from governments. Politico reported that this idea is gaining popularity among EU politicians and may be included in the agenda of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen if she is appointed for a second term, which will begin by the end of 2024.

European Commissioner for Finance Mairead McGuinness advised EU member states to contact companies involved in producing sanctioned goods to push them to check their supply chains more thoroughly for compliance with EU sanctions rules.

National authorities should share information about non-EU companies and individuals who may be involved in exploiting sanctions loopholes and “exercise particular vigilance” over sanctions exemptions that could make the problem worse, the letter stated, according to Politico.

According to Politico, European Commissioner for Finance Mairead McGuinness will discuss the letter from the European Commission with national ministers of EU member states at a meeting on sanctions on 13 February 2024.

Related:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

Please leave your suggestions or corrections here



    Euromaidan Press

    We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!

    Related Posts