An EU effort to close loopholes that allow Russian oil to flow into the European Union is finding broad support from member countries, officials and diplomats have said,
Politico reports.
Representatives from the 27 member countries met Thursday to discuss technical aspects of the 11th package of sanctions against Russia — a response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
According to three people with knowledge of the talks, there is currently no major opposition to stepping up enforcement of existing energy embargoes — even from countries believed to be benefiting from undeclared imports of Russian crude.
“Of course this package is different from the others, focusing on circumvention, and it will have a different impact so we are taking our time to look at all the proposals," said an EU diplomat from a country that has faced pressure to cut energy ties with Russia. “But for us, enforcement isn’t proving to be a major issue — we don’t have red lines on this.”
A draft version of the European Commission’s proposals for the sanctions package, seen by POLITICO this week, would bar vessels covertly carrying Russian crude from the bloc’s ports. That's aimed at the so-called ‘shadow fleet’ of aging tankers carrying Russian crude since the EU banned imports of Russian oil and oil products in conjunction with a price cap imposed by the G7 in March.
Russia doesn't have enough ships to carry its oil, so is forced to use third-country tankers to move its oil. Much of that fleet is thought to be Greek-owned, according to an analysis by S&P Global. Some ships are turning off their transponders and GPS to avoid being found out, said the draft sanctions measure.
“Given the sharp increase in deceptive practices, and related environmental risks, by vessels transporting Russian crude oil and petroleum products in an effort to circumvent Union restrictive measures,” new measures would create powers to bar “access to the ports and locks of the Union to vessels that are suspected or found in breach of the ban on importing seaborne Russian crude oil and petroleum products into the Union and of the G7 agreed price cap by engaging in ship-to-ship transfers,” the draft said, adding that the same penalties would apply to ships turning off their transponders and GPS.
