The European Union pushes for a maritime declaration to inspect Russia’s shadow fleet, seeking to strengthen enforcement of sanctions and cut Moscow’s oil income. The plan, led by the European External Action Service (EEAS), would let EU countries cooperate with flag states to board and inspect Russian-linked oil tankers suspected of evading sanctions.
The proposal follows recent actions by France, Germany, Estonia, and Finland against tankers such as Boracay, Eventin, and Eagle S.
The EEAS document calls for bilateral agreements between flag states and the EU, granting pre-authorised rights for vessel inspections. It also highlights the growing problem of fake flag registrations used to disguise ship ownership.
According to the EEAS, the Russian “shadow fleet” may include between 600 and 1,400 vessels. More than 400 ships are already under EU sanctions, and this number is expected to rise to around 560 once the bloc adopts its 19th sanctions package next week.
The upcoming measures will also accelerate a planned ban on Russian LNG imports to January 1, 2027, and target tanker refuelling, or bunkering, services. The proposal follows an agreement earlier this month by the G7 nations to coordinate actions against countries helping Moscow bypass existing restrictions.
