Source: European Parliament
24.10.2025
Priority question for written answer P-004199/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Andrzej Halicki (PPE), Stine Bosse (Renew), Sergey Lagodinsky (Verts/ALE)
The so-called Russian shadow fleet constitutes a serious threat to European security. Credible evidence indicates that missiles and drones have been launched from vessels belonging to this fleet, thereby endangering the airspace of EU Member States as well as critical infrastructure located in European maritime basins.
Beyond its immediate military dimension, the Russian shadow fleet represents a significant ecological, financial and political risk. The shadow fleet continues to serve the Russian war machine by facilitating the revenue generation from the export of raw materials, in particular crude oil, thereby undermining the effectiveness of EU sanctions.
While the EU has addressed this issue on several occasions, Russian activities continue to evolve and adapt rapidly to newly adopted restrictive measures.
- 1.How does the Commission intend to accelerate the mechanism for the preparation and adoption of sanctions?
- 2.What concrete steps have been taken to ensure that sanction decisions concerning the vessels of the Russian shadow fleet and the entities responsible for their registration can be adopted more quickly and that those already in force are being implemented effectively?
- 3.Is the Commission considering establishing a list of approved insurers of vessels operating in European waters, to be used by the legislators of the EU Member States?
Submitted: 24.10.2025