EU Parliament Calls for More China Sanctions to Stymie Russia Sanctions Evasion

Members of the European Parliament approved a resolution last week calling on the EU to expand sanctions against Russia, Belarus, and non-EU countries and entities providing Russia with military and dual-use technologies.

The members said they want tougher sanctions against Iran and Russia in response to the recent transfer of ballistic missiles from Tehran to Moscow (see 2409130036 and 2409160005). The resolution said more Chinese people and companies should be added to EU sanctions lists in response to reports showing that Beijing is giving Russia “substantial assistance to bolster its military capabilities.” That assistance is “extending beyond dual-use technologies,” the resolution said.

The resolution “underlines” the need to stop “critical components produced in EU countries from reaching the Russian military.” Parliament “considers it is essential to strengthen controls on the export and maintenance of high-tech equipment produced in the EU, as well as to increase law enforcement measures and cooperation to prevent sanctions circumvention.”

It also said existing sanctions against Russia will “continue to be undermined” as long as the EU continues to import Russian fossil fuels, which is giving revenue to the country’s government. The resolution also calls for an import ban on Russian grain, potash and fertilizers, along with raw materials, including aluminum, steel products, uranium, titanium, nickel, wood and wood products, and gas and oil. EU member states should put in place a “full ban on re-exported Russian refined oil products,” it said, and introduce a new “‘rules of origin’ documentation" requirement that would “ensure the true origin of oil products imported to the EU.”