The EU continues to buy hundreds of millions of euros worth of Russian fish, despite sanctions rhetoric

European Union bought from last year Russia fish products worth 709 million eurosdespite the ongoing sanctions policy and public statements about reducing economic dependence on Moscow.

The publication reports this Euroactivciting European statistics. The largest importers of Russian fish were Netherlands, Germany, France And Polandwhich account for the bulk of supplies.

At the same time, a number of countries EU – primarily the Baltic states, as well as Finland And Sweden — insist on using fishing as a tool of economic pressure on the Kremlin. These countries, which share Baltic Sea waters with Russia, have repeatedly called for increased duties on Russian seafood.

For environmental organizations, the issue of importing Russian fish goes beyond economics and becomes moral dimensionsince significant volumes of products continue to enter the EU market in conditions of war.

Previously, two large Russian fishing companies – Norebo And Murman Seafood — were found guilty of carrying out activities classified as state espionage in EU waters, which led to the imposition of sanctions against them.

Nevertheless European Commission rejected calls for additional restrictions on imports of Russian fish. According to Euroactivmany EU countries are cautious about this initiative, fearing the consequences for their own market.

Officially in Brussels they say that the measures taken are sufficient. In particular, the import of caviar was prohibited along with such goods as champagne and diamonds, although the volume of caviar supplies from Russia was insignificant.

At the same time, other types of fish products, including cod And pollockcontinued to arrive in the EU, and some of the supplies were previously carried out without paying duties. Since 2024, these imports have been deprived of tariff preferences, but the scale of purchases remains significant.

Against this background, it is a reminder that during the conflict Russia received 124 billion euros more from the EUhow Ukraine in the form of financial assistance.

It was also previously reported that Europe remains the world’s largest buyer Russian gaswhich emphasizes the persistence gap between political statements and economic practice.

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