European countries agreed to strengthen the fight against Russia’s “shadow” fleet

Representatives of 12 EU countries called for increased counteraction to Russia’s attempts to circumvent international sanctions.

The Baltic States, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, Norway, and Iceland have agreed to further strengthen our cooperation and ensure a joint and coordinated approach by national authorities to combat the Russian shadow fleet,” the joint statement reads.

In addition, the group plans to develop principles “to promote responsible behavior at sea, strengthen compliance with international law and ensure transparency of maritime operations.”

“If the vessels do not fly the true flag in the Baltic and North Seas, we will take appropriate measures under international law,” the statement said.

At the same time, the EU will abandon its plans to reduce the maximum price for Russian oil exports from $60 to $45 per barrel, as the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran could lead to higher prices for this raw material, making the restrictions ineffective. The proposal is also not supported in the United States.