The European Union is working on a 20th package of sanctions against Russia that will target the aggressor’s energy revenues, its shadow fleet and sanctions-evasion networks. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stressed that such steps are needed to counter hybrid threats and potential ecological risks from accidents involving Russian ships in the Baltic Sea, according to Ukrinform.
“Russia tests us every day - at sea, in the air, in cyberspace. Hybrid threats, damage to critical infrastructure, intimidation - all of this is part of a strategy aimed at sowing uncertainty in our societies and undermining our unity. And we are responding together: we are strengthening the protection of our infrastructure and increasing pressure on Russia. We are much stronger and more resilient than Putin wants to believe. That is why we are working flat out on the 20th sanctions package, which will primarily target Russia’s energy revenues, its shadow fleet and sanctions-evasion networks,” the minister said.
“These shadow-fleet vessels, designed specifically to circumvent sanctions, are also part of these hybrid threats. By the way, they pose a danger not only by allowing Russia to continue earning revenue. They also endanger all Baltic coastal states because we often see ships here in catastrophic technical condition with poorly trained crews,” the German foreign minister said.
He explained that in the event of a tanker accident, Baltic Sea coastlines could be heavily polluted - “there is a risk of an environmental disaster, along with serious economic consequences for the entire tourism sector.”
“That is why we need to be much more effective in combating the shadow fleet,” he added.
“We are already acting against it. We are adding vessels and their owners to sanctions packages at the EU level and independently. But we, the Baltic Sea partners, must share information very specifically and deepen our cooperation,” the minister emphasized.
Wadephul also proposed making more active use of maritime law against ships with unclear flag status and stopping them.
“We must now use all the possibilities of maritime law to stop such ships. And we must finally begin discussions on further developing maritime law in this area. Because right now it prevents us from acting against ships and their owners who pay no attention to maritime norms. It cannot be that our hands are constantly tied unilaterally. That is why I strongly propose moving toward a review of maritime law in this area,” the German minister said.
