Henna Virkkunen, deputy head of the European Commission (EC), warned that due to the destruction of infrastructure by the Russian shadow fleet, the European Union (EU) should prepare for the worst-case scenario.
Virkkunen and Polish Minister for European Union Affairs Adam Szłapka took part in a debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg devoted to “sabotage activities carried out by the Russian shadow fleet that are destroying critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.”
Russian shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea
The almost 20-year-old Eagle S tanker, which flies the flag of the Cook Islands, is suspected of damaging undersea cables in the Gulf of Finland (electricity EstLink 2 and several telecommunications cables). Finnish authorities imposed a navigation ban on the vessel due to technical faults discovered during inspections.
Virkkunen and Szłapka emphasized that in connection with the so-called Russian shadow fleet, in December 2024, the EU added 52 ships to the list of vessels subject to a ban on access to EU ports and a ban on providing a wide range of services related to maritime transport.
These are old, often uninsured ships Russia transports oil subject to price limits imposed by the West. A total of 71 ships belonging to the shadow fleet have already been sanctioned.
“It drives Russia's war machine”
– While any decisions on further measures are to be taken unanimously by EU member states, we will continue to explore ways to increase pressure on Russia and its shadow fleet, Szłapka said.
He added that the Russian shadow fleet not only “fuels Russia's war machine used against Ukraine” by transporting sanctioned oil, but also “poses a threat to the environment in the Baltic Sea because the fleet is in poor technical condition.”
“We need to prepare for the worst-case scenario.”
Virkkunen, in turn, argued that “we must prepare for the worst-case scenario and implement serious actions in response to threats from entities that are ready to use a whole range of tools to destabilize our democratic society.”
The Vice-President of the European Commission called on member states to implement two “sister” directives that are intended to help countries increase the resistance of critical infrastructure to sabotage.
These are the directives on the resilience of critical entities (CER) and cybersecurity (NIS2), which entered into force in October 2024. Under the NIS2 Directive, Member States are obliged to develop and implement protection strategies for 18 sectors considered critical.
However, most countries have not fulfilled this obligation on time. In connection with European Commission initiated infringement proceedings against 23 Member States, including Poland.
Virkkunen added that the EU lacks common “management of cable technologies and cable laying services that would guarantee quick and safe repair and maintenance.” – We have to cooperate with NATOwhich is a key entity in this regard, she said.
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