Alleged practices aimed at circumventing EU sanctions on Russian oil
21.2.2023
Question for written answer E-000549/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Marco Zanni (ID), Susanna Ceccardi (ID), Anna Bonfrisco (ID)
According to several newspapers, it would appear that Russia is managing to circumvent EU sanctions through opaque practices and sell its oil on the European market. Apparently third countries are purchasing Russian crude oil, blending it with their own and/or presenting it as a product of domestic origin.
Crude oil from Russian ships is, for example, transferred to other ships offshore, allegedly off the coast of Europe (specifically off Ceuta and Kalamata).
In view of the fact that the price cap and European embargo on Russian oil came into force on 5 December 2022 and that as of 5 February 2023 that embargo was also extended to refined oil products, can the Commission answer the following questions:
- 1.Whether it is aware of such commercial practices aimed at circumventing the sanctions?
- 2.What steps it will take to find out whether this is actually happening and, if so, how it plans to put an end to it?
Submitted: 21.2.2023