EU AGREES ON 16TH SANCTION PACKAGE AGAINST RUSSIA
This week, EU ambassadors approved the 16th package of sanctions against Russia, specifically targeting the "shadow fleet" of ships used to circumvent existing sanctions. Marking the third-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU further increase its efforts to disrupt illicit activities that support Russia's military operations.
The "shadow fleet" consists of aging and often poorly insured vessels that Russia employs to evade sanctions on oil and cargo trade. These ships are suspected of involvement in various illicit activities, including espionage and sabotage. In the 16th sanctions package, the EU is specifically targeting an additional 73 specific ships considered to be part of the Russian shadow fleet. 79 Russian ships were already covered by EU sanctions. The package is expected to be formally adopted at the Foreign Affairs Council on 24 February.
In addition, the Council decided last week to prolong the mandate of the EU maritime security operation to safeguard freedom of navigation in relation to the Red Sea crisis (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES) until 28 February 2026, with a reference amount of over €17 million for the period. Member States agreed to allow Operation ASPIDES to collect information, in addition to data necessary to protect vessels, on arms trafficking and on shadow fleets with a view to sharing this information with Member States, the European Commission, and other relevant international organisations including IMO, INTERPOL and EUROPOL.
Source: ShippingWatch, Council of the EU