EU Parliament Calls for More Russia Shadow Fleet Sanctions, LNG Import Ban

The EU should impose more sanctions against the owners and operators of vessels in Russia’s shadow fleet along with the banks and insurance companies they’re using, EU Parliament members said in a resolution adopted Nov. 14.

Russia is using tankers in the fleet -- which generally include older ships, usually with false registrations, transporting sanctioned goods (see 2310240068 and 2405150025) -- to export crude oil and petroleum products despite international sanctions, Parliament said in a news release. The fleet is giving Russia a “key financial lifeline,” members said, adding that the bloc should put in place "more targeted measures" against these vessels and their owners, operators, managers, accounts, banks and insurance companies in the next EU sanctions package.

Members said drone and satellite surveillance could help the EU better track and designate vessels in the fleet. The EU should sanction any vessels sailing through EU waters without known insurance, they said, and member states should designate ocean ports “capable of handling sanctioned vessels carrying” crude oil and liquified natural gas, and seize illegally transported cargo without compensation.

The resolution also urges the EU to ban all imports of Russian fossil fuels, including LNG, saying sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine will “continue to be undermined” as long as those imports continue.

Members also called on the Group of 7 nations to ramp up enforcement of the Russian oil price cap, including by “substantially” lowering the current cap of $60 per barrel. The countries should also “crack down on the loopholes used by Russia to repackage and sell its oil and oil products at market prices” and “seriously reassess its bilateral cooperation” with countries that are helping Russia evade EU sanctions “if diplomatic efforts are unsuccessful.”