European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has openly admitted that the European Union is not taking sufficient action to stop Russia's shadow fleet from transporting sanctioned oil through European waters. In a candid interview with Sky News's lead world news presenter Yalda Hakim, Metsola emphasized the urgent need for enhanced cooperation among EU member states to prevent ships carrying illegal goods from continuing to sail in European maritime zones.
Inadequate Measures Against Shadow Fleet Operations
Metsola highlighted that despite the EU adopting 19 packages of sanctions against Russia, more decisive steps are required. She called for the implementation of a 20th sanctions regime to further clamp down on these illicit activities. "We still have to do more on the shadow fleet, with more vessels that need to be impounded," she stated, underscoring the persistent challenges in curbing Russia's use of a shadow fleet to export large quantities of crude oil in defiance of Western sanctions.
European Complicity in Funding Russia's War
The European Parliament president did not shy away from criticizing European countries for indirectly funding Russia's war against Ukraine through continued purchases of oil and gas. She labeled this situation as "unacceptable," stressing that any financial support, whether inadvertent or overt, from the EU to Russia's military efforts must be halted. "For us, any possibility for Russia to continue to wage its war against Ukraine and against Europe as a whole, by using funds that could inadvertently or overtly come from the European Union, is unacceptable," Metsola added, pointing to the moral and strategic imperative for stricter enforcement.
Challenges in Tracking and Seizing Vessels
When questioned about plans to seize vessels operating within Russia's shadow fleet, Metsola acknowledged ongoing efforts but admitted significant gaps remain. "We have seen a lot of work, jointly, on this shadow fleet. It's not solved yet. There are a lot of vessels that continue to operate," she explained. She noted that ships are frequently identified quickly changing their flags and registrations "in an illegal manner" to evade detection, yet conceded that the EU needs to act faster to address these tactics. "I think we are doing well, but we need to do better," she reflected, calling for improved coordination and speed in response.
Evidence of Shadow Fleet Activity in European Waters
Recent investigations by Sky News have tracked dozens of Russian tankers loaded with sanctioned oil sailing between Britain and France, highlighting the scale of the issue. These vessels, carrying Russian oil worth approximately $100 million (£74.1 million), cruised through the Channel in direct defiance of Western sanctions. Specific tankers such as the Rigel, the Hyperion, and the Kousai were followed from the Gulf of Finland, where they loaded oil at Russian Baltic ports, as they navigated the narrowest point of the Dover Straits.
These ships are part of a larger shadow fleet estimated to include up to 800 vessels, which plays a crucial role in sustaining oil revenues that fund the war in Ukraine. This revelation comes as the world marks the fourth anniversary of Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with peace talks involving negotiators from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States currently being held in Abu Dhabi. The ongoing conflict underscores the critical need for the EU to strengthen its measures against Russia's economic strategies, particularly in maritime domains where shadow fleets operate with relative impunity.
