European Parliament Calls for Strengthening Sanctions Against Russia
On Thursday, November 9, the European Parliament approved a resolution calling for an escalation of sanctions against Russia. This information was reported by the parliament's press service.
The resolution highlights that Russia has been finding ways to circumvent sanctions, such as price restrictions on oil. It also notes that the European Union effectively introduces Russian oil into its market in the form of products manufactured in India. Deputies also emphasized that Russia imports Western components through China, Turkey, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, and potentially other countries like Azerbaijan, which may be whitening Russian gas for export to the EU.
The text underscores that the European Union remains one of the largest purchasers of Russian fossil fuels, continuing to buy pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia. The resolution proposes a complete closure of the EU market to Russian fossil fuels.
The Parliament also suggests significantly reducing the maximum prices for Russian oil and petroleum products, imposing a complete embargo on liquefied natural and oil gas (LNG and LPG) from Russia, as well as on petroleum products from other countries made from Russian oil.
The Parliament demands a ban on the transportation of Russian oil and LNG through EU territory and the imposition of restrictions on prices and volumes for the import of Russian and Belarusian fertilizers.
The European Parliament also supports a complete ban on Russian diamonds and is exploring legal avenues for transferring frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.
As of today, the European Union adopted its 11th sanctions package in June 2023, primarily focusing on a new mechanism to combat sanctions circumvention through third countries. Since September, the EU has been preparing its 12th sanctions package, but it has not been adopted yet.
Recall that the Czech government has intensified efforts against companies violating EU sanctions on Russia by exporting and importing goods through third countries. The Czech customs administration identified about 40 cases of sanctions violations, often through Turkey or former Soviet republics. One ongoing investigation involves the illegal export of cars to Russia. The police are also investigating the case of the Czech company Labara, which shipped machines through Turkey to its subsidiary in Russia, potentially for the production of weapons.