The European Union’s European External Action Service (EEAS) has urged the member states to support a maritime declaration that would allow EU nations, working with flag states, to inspect Russia’s “shadow
fleet” of oil tankers.
Politico quoted an EEAS document as stating that the issue of ships transporting Russian oil sailing under different flags to escape EU sanctions has wide implications for the bloc, as those vessels not only help to boost Moscow’s war economy but also “pose threats to the environment and to navigation safety”.
It further stated that the shadow ships are a risk for critical infrastructure and “can be used as platforms for hybrid attacks against EU territory”.
The EU body said that some of the vessels are suspected to be used as launch pads for Russian drones to get information on critical Western sites and disrupt civilian airports.
The draft declaration has proposed “possible bilateral agreements between the flag states and the EU on pre-authorised boardings for inspections,” the EEAS wrote in the document.
The EU body plans to finalise the declaration by the end of November and adopt it at the following meeting of EU foreign ministers.
Earlier this month, the EEAS had started a discussion at the technical level on the basis of a draft declaration of the EU and its member states on reinforcing the International Law of the Sea framework.
The effort “would provide an additional tool to member states to boost the effectiveness of enforcement actions, including providing a basis to board shadow fleet ships,” the document stated.
It added that the EU “could support member states in their efforts if they agree to grant the EU the right to negotiate agreements on their behalf for pre-authorised boardings for inspections”.
