The newspaper writes that none of the EU countries has a serious objection to the tightening of sanctions against the Russian energy sector. Policy With reference to sources among European diplomats.
“At the moment, there is no significant opposition to further imposition of existing energy embargoes, even from countries believed to be benefiting from Russia’s undeclared oil imports,” said three people familiar with the discussions.
On May 11, representatives of EU countries discussed the technical issues of the 11th package of sanctions against Russia.
“This pack is different from the others as it focuses on jumping. [действующих ограничений]and it will have a different impact, so we are not in a rush to consider all proposals.”
It is assumed that the new sanctions package will strengthen previous measures to more effectively counter the entry of Russian oil into EU countries by sea. Its adoption will require the approval of all 27 EU countries.
New restrictions
Politico had previously met with the preliminary version of the European Commission’s new sanctions package proposals. According to the publication, it prohibits ships carrying Russian oil from entering European ports.
The document refers to “a sharp increase in fraudulent practices and associated environmental risks by ships transporting Russian oil and petroleum products to circumvent restrictions.” The new measures will authorize ships suspected of violating the ban on imports of crude oil and petroleum products from Russia from entering EU ports.
Citing an analysis by S&P Global, the newspaper claims that Russia uses third-country tankers to transport its oil and that most of this fleet belongs to Greece. The new enforcement document says some ships have turned off their transponders and GPS to avoid detection. If restrictions are accepted, shipowners will be fined for turning off transponders and GPS.
A senior European Commission official told the publication, on condition of anonymity, that such a tightening would not cause much controversy.
By contrast, George Voloshin, sanctions expert of the Association of Certified Money Laundering Professionals (ACAMS), believes that the real test will not be the adoption of new restrictions, but their actual implementation.
“To date, application in the EU is very limited,” he said. The expert stressed that Mediterranean countries “suspected” of violating the sanctions regime “will have to do more than sign new rules in Brussels” and will continue to work with Russian oil.
Politico argues that the measures are part of a broader package of sanctions that could target third countries that expand trade with Russia, including China and Iran. The European Union is also trying to increase the effect of the restrictions imposed on the Russian economy with new sanctions.
The European Union has been working on the next package of sanctions since spring. The European Commission stated that the measures will aim to eliminate legal loopholes to circumvent sanctions. Companies from Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Syria and Uzbekistan that are suspected of helping Russia circumvent restrictions could be subject to sanctions, according to EUobserver. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that the imminent tightening of sanctions against Moscow will not be the last.
On December 5, 2022, the European Union stopped accepting Russian oil transported by sea and, together with Australia and the G7 countries, set a price cap for oil at US$60 per barrel during shipping. Similar restrictions apply to Russian petroleum products. Now European companies can not provide services for the transportation of Russian raw materials to third countries if they were purchased at a price higher than the established “ceiling”.