Sanctions against EU actors knowingly enabling Russia’s war machine

Question for written answer E-003761/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Petras Auštrevičius (Renew)

In recent months, concerns have emerged about the role of EU-based shipping companies - primarily Greek - in the continued sale of vessels to actors linked to Russia's shadow fleet, which is transporting Russian oil.

Reports indicate that Okeanis Eco Tankers, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and Kyklades Maritime Corporation, both owned by the Alafouzos family, have continued shipping Russian oil.

Open-source investigations reveal that a small number of individuals sold billions of euro worth of tankers to opaque buyers and these vessels are now operating in the shadow fleet. In 2024, 14 former Greek-owned ships, worth USD 480 million, ended up in this fleet, with TMS Tankers of Georges Economou and Tsakos Energy Navigation among the sellers.

In 2023, some Greek shippers, including TMS Tankers, were listed by Ukraine as 'Sponsors of War.'

While the EU's 15th-18th sanctions packages have expanded vessel blacklists, no individual EU shipowners have faced personal sanctions.

• 1.Does the Commission intend to propose sanctions against EU individuals and companies that knowingly enable the shadow fleet?
• 2.How will sanctions enforcement target EU actors circumventing the oil price cap?

Submitted: 26.9.2025