Greece and Malta blocked tougher EU sanctions against oil shipments from Russia

Greece and Malta opposed the European Commission’s proposal to replace the “price ceiling” on Russian oil with a complete ban on oil transportation services. The agency reports this Bloomberg with reference to sources.

According to the agency’s interlocutors, it was these two countries that became the main obstacle to advancing the initiative as part of a new package of sanctions against Russia.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of permanent representatives of countries EUwhere Brussels’ proposals for the next sanctions package were presented.

Shipping countries’ concerns

Sources said Greece and Malta have expressed serious concerns about the possible impact of the ban on their shipping industries.

In their opinion, such a measure could negatively affect the income of maritime carriers, insurance companies and related industries, as well as lead to rising energy prices.

Both countries have some of the largest merchant fleets in Europe and have traditionally played a key role in international maritime transport.

Request further clarification

Athens and Valletta have also asked for clarification on possible sanctions against foreign ports that continue to handle Russian oil.

We are talking about the risk of introducing secondary restrictions on infrastructure outside the European Union.

European Commission plans

It was previously reported that, as part of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, the European Union is considering the option of abandoning the “price ceiling” mechanism in favor of a direct ban on sea transportation of oil.

On February 6, the European Commission presented a draft of a new sanctions package covering energy, financial services and trade.

The document provides for additional restrictions on transportation services, insurance and financial support for transactions with Russian raw materials.

Approval procedure

The legislative proposal must be approved by the Council of the European Union.

Its adoption requires a unanimous vote of all 27 EU member states.

Objections from Greece and Malta are effectively blocking progress of the initiative at this stage.

Economic context

Experts note that the dispute over sanctions reflects the contradiction between the political goals of the European Union and the economic interests of individual countries.

For states with a developed shipping sector, a ban on oil transportation services means direct financial losses.

At the same time, supporters of tightening sanctions insist on the need to increase pressure on the export of Russian energy resources.

Conclusion

The position of Greece and Malta demonstrates that serious disagreements remain within the European Union on the issue of sanctions policy.

The economic interests of maritime powers are increasingly coming into conflict with Brussels’ attempts to increase energy pressure on Russia.

The outcome of the discussion will depend on whether the European Commission manages to find a compromise between the political and commercial priorities of member countries.

Athens News previously reported that Russia set a record for LNG exports to Europe in January 2026. Officially European Commission maintains the goal of a complete phase-out of Russian fossil energy resources by 2027. However, implementing this plan in practice turns out to be much more difficult.

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