A fifth round of sanctions against Russia has been proposed by the European Commission in response to the invasion of Ukraine and allegations of war crimes, with the new sanctions’ six pillars including an import ban on Russian seafood to EU member states.
Explaining the move announced on 5 April 2022, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the specific new import bans on products from wood to cement, and from seafood to alcohol, worth €5.5 billion, are intended to cut the money stream of Russia and its oligarchs.
“In doing this, we also close loopholes between Russia and Belarus,” she said.
Russia is “waging a cruel and ruthless war” and that it is important to sustain the “utmost pressure” on Putin and the Russian government at this critical point, von der Leyen said.
“The four packages of sanctions have hit hard and limited the Kremlin’s political and economic options. We are seeing tangible results. But clearly, in view of events, we need to increase our pressure further. Today, we are proposing to take our sanctions a step further. We will make them broader and sharper, so that they cut even deeper in the Russian economy,” she said.
Also included in the six pillars are an import ban on coal from Russia, worth €4 billion per year; a ban on Russian vessels and Russian-operated vessels from accessing EU ports, with certain exemptions covering essentials, such as agricultural and food products, humanitarian aid and energy; and a general EU ban on participation of Russian companies in public procurement in member states.
Earlier EU measures have ranged from sanctions against individuals including Vladimir Putin and Russian MPs, to the financial and energy sectors.
