Request for an investigation into Austria’s flouting of the EU sanctions against Russia
9.8.2023
Question for written answer E-002408/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Eugen Tomac (PPE)
Recent Eurostat data[1] shows that, although the general trend at EU level has been a significant reduction in trade with Russia, the case of Austria is a completely different story.
The value of products imported by Austria from Russia in the last few years is as follows: 2019 – EUR 2 078 626 366; 2020 – no official Eurostat data; 2021 – EUR 3 692 264 161 (an increase of 77.6 % compared to 2019); 2022 – EUR 7 333 072 139 (an increase of 252 % compared to 2019 and 98.6 % compared to 2021).
The upshot is that Austria has doubled its imports of goods from Russia since the beginning of the latter’s war against Ukraine. Vienna continues to supply the criminal regime in Moscow with more than EUR 20 million per day, ignoring the EU’s sanctions policy.
- 1.How is the Commission planning to hold Austria accountable for its choice to fraternise with Russia, contrary to the EU sanctions?
- 2.Is it going to take concrete measures to address Austria’s infringement, given that the EU’s sanctions against Russia are legally binding for all the Member States and must be reinforced?
Submitted:9.8.2023
- [1] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?oldid=558089.