New EU Sanctions – Russiand Cod Banned

An entry ban on former Russian soldiers who served during the full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine.

This is what the European Commission is proposing in its 21st package of sanctions against the Russian war economy.

“For the first time, we are proposing a ban on entry into the EU for anyone who has been active in the Russian armed forces since the start of the war,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a press conference in Brussels.

The measure has long been called for by the Baltic states, and recently also with support from Sweden.

30 vessels

The sanctions package also lists a further 30 vessels in Russia’s so-called shadow fleet – ships believed to be used to circumvent sanctions on Russian oil exports – in addition to the 632 already subject to sanctions.

For the first time, vessels assisting the shadow fleet are also included, says von der Leyen.

Critical infrastructure such as ports, refineries and airports that trade in or handle Russian oil will also be subject to sanctions, according to the Commission President.

Furthermore, the European Commission intends to add a further 31 Russian banks and 20 banks, crypto platforms and oil trading platforms in third countries to the sanctions list.

No Russian cod

The European Commission has also turned its attention to a new area in the context of sanctions: fisheries. Certain fish products from Russia will be subject to extensive restrictions, whilst others, such as cod, will be banned entirely.

Furthermore, materials used by Russia’s defence industry, such as metals and drone components, are expected to be subject to even stricter export restrictions or export bans. The EU also wants to introduce a total import ban on certain metals and car parts from Russia, goods worth the equivalent of 650 million Swedish kronor, according to von der Leyen.

Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard writes in a written statement that she welcomes the sanctions package and that the time to “strike hard at the Russian war chest is now”.

“Sweden views the proposals for further listings of a large number of Russian banks, vessels in the Russian shadow fleet, the adjusted oil price cap and proposed import bans on Russian fish, including cod, particularly favourably. This will deprive the Russian war economy of vital revenue,” she writes.

^{Omslagsbild: Fler åtgärder mot Rysslands så kallade skuggflotta väntas när EU lägger fram sitt 21:a sanktionspaket mot den ryska krigsekonomin. Bilden visar en beslagtagen rysk oljetanker i Medelhavet i januari. Foto: Philippe Magoni/AP/TT}