Latvia, Lithuania block passage of 15th package of EU sanctions against Russia – Politico

Representatives of EU countries failed to approve the 15th package of sanctions against Russia. The sanctions package is aimed at the so-called "shadow fleet" of the Russian Federation. However, two EU members, Latvia and Lithuania, blocked the adoption of the package.

According to Politico, Latvia and Lithuania blocked the adoption "due to disagreements" over the issue of extending the deadline for European companies to withdraw investments from Russia. In particular, these countries opposed leaving "loopholes for abuse."

Citing sources in the EU diplomacy, the publication adds that this package of sanctions will be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on December 16.

"Initially, the controversial clause was intended to help companies that said they wanted to withdraw from Russia but could not do so for various reasons. But later it became a loophole to be abused and gives companies too much political cover to stay in Russia," the newspaper notes.

In total, the new package of sanctions will more than double the number of oil and gas tankers already blacklisted by the Russian shadow fleet, bringing the total number to 75 vessels.

"It is a pity that we could not adopt the 15th package of sanctions because Latvia and Lithuania did not agree to it. At the same time, the European Commission promised to take into account their request for guarantees to end these derogations in the new package," the publication quoted an unnamed EU diplomat as saying.

This is a derogation from the sanctions that came into effect in December 2022. According to it, foreign companies that have not withdrawn from Russia are not subject to sanctions restrictions but only receive a warning. This derogation has already been extended three times, which, according to representatives of Latvia and Lithuania, "has already given companies enough warnings."

Slovakia, which is trying to make another exception to the sanctions package that would allow it to export refined Russian oil to the neighboring Czech Republic, also has complaints about the sanctions package.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Russia has increased its "shadow fleet" of oil tankers by 70% over the past year, allowing it to circumvent sanctions and keep oil exports high. Currently, the volume of Russian oil transported by the shadow fleet has increased from 2.4 million barrels per day in June 2023 to 4.1 million barrels in June 2024.

After the EU sanctions on Russian oil, Russia began using the "shadow fleet " to transport oil through international waters. These technically defective vessels without proper insurance pose serious environmental risks and can lead to disasters in the Baltic Sea.

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