Determined to fill the "gap", EU "relies" on third countries, Russia's economy suffers tangible impact

The European Union's (EU) special envoy for sanctions, David O'Sullivan, revealed that the West's approach to third countries to control Russia's sanctions evasion is making it 'more difficult' for Moscow,

The 11th package of EU sanctions against Russia has been approved. (Source: RT)

The above information was given by Mr. David O'Sullivan at the recent meeting of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Council in Brussels (Belgium).

According to him, the EU has long been suspicious of third countries acting as intermediaries to bring important EU-produced goods to Russia.

Despite EU export restrictions on “hundreds of goods and technologies,” Russia still gets most of the goods it needs, Bloomberg sources said.

Analysis by the Swiss watchdog Trade Data Monitor also shows that, despite being sanctioned, Moscow appears to have alternatives for most of the products it needs, including high-tech products.

Faced with this situation, the EU's sanctions envoy revealed that the 27-member group, the US, the UK and Japan have identified 38 priority products suspected of being exported in large quantities to third countries and then re-exported to Russia.

In recent months, representatives of the EU, UK and US have visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Serbia to "rely" on the governments ' support in resolving the issue of Moscow "dodging" sanctions.

“We have had a good response on this issue,” Mr O’Sullivan said. “However, we need to be ‘constantly vigilant’ to ensure other countries do not become conduits for circumvention.”

Late last month, the 11th package of EU sanctions against Russia was adopted, aimed at plugging loopholes and preventing circumvention.

The 11th package of sanctions also imposes restrictions on the sale of dual-use goods and technology (which can be used for both civilian and military purposes) to countries that may resell them to Russia and expands the list of restricted goods that could serve the country's military and defense sector.

In order to restrict the activities of Russian crude oil or petroleum products tankers at sea to avoid sanctions, the package prohibits access to EU ports for ships engaged in ship-to-ship transfers.

Accordingly, if third countries do not comply with Western sanctions or cannot explain why trade in banned goods suddenly increases, they may face EU sanctions.

"So far, the sanctions are having a tangible impact on the Russian economy ," said the EU's special envoy on sanctions.

Source