EU Sanctions Proposed for Ships Damaging Baltic Sea Infrastructure

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has proposed that captains of ships damaging underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, such as telecoms cables or pipelines, should face EU sanctions to deter such acts. This suggestion comes as part of discussions for the next package of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. The Baltic Sea region has experienced a series of power cable, telecom link, and gas pipeline outages since the invasion, all caused by ships dragging anchors on the seabed.

Sikorski expressed frustration at the exploitation of freedom of navigation by older ships registered under flags of convenience in tax havens. These ships often lack insurance or have policies that cannot be activated, making it difficult to hold them accountable. NATO has increased its presence in the Baltic region to prevent such damaging actions, which are frequently carried out by ships with Russian or Chinese crews. There are concerns that Russian warships and spy ships may be mapping undersea infrastructure in both the Baltics and the North Sea.

In response to these incidents, EU authorities have been urged to sanction the crews of these ships. Sikorski emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable by placing them on sanctions lists, which could serve as a deterrent for future similar actions. The goal is to prevent further damage to critical underwater infrastructure and maintain security in the Baltic Sea and beyond.

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