Baltic and North Seas: Europe prepares response to Russian “shadow fleet” maneuvers

EU countries and partners plan joint actions to counter sanctions circumvention schemes and strengthen control at sea.

Fourteen European countries have agreed to step up the fight against the Russian “shadow fleet”. The corresponding joint statement was adopted at a meeting of EU maritime states on June 19, writes “European Pravda”.

Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, France, Sweden, Finland and the Baltic states, as well as the United Kingdom, Norway and Iceland, have joined the initiative.

Among the planned measures is the development of guidelines to ensure the transparency of maritime operations, compliance with international law and the prevention of illegal activities.

The participants agreed to take measures against vessels hiding the real flag in the Baltic and North Seas. As the document emphasizes, these are actions exclusively within the framework of international law.

The day before, USM reported that New Zealand had imposed sanctions against the Russian shadow fleet: 27 vessels were hit.