The key facts

  • On October 22, the European Parliament called for restoring the ban on imports of Russian mink fur, which was lifted in July with the unanimous consent of all 27 EU countries.
  • EU Commissioner Joseph Sikela did not disclose which countries requested the exemption, but noted that their fur industry depends on Russian raw materials.
  • Brussels is currently preparing the 22nd sanctions package against Russia; restoring the ban requires unanimity in the EU Council.

European Parliament called for reinstating the ban

On October 22 in Strasbourg, the European Parliament adopted a resolution devoted to the intensification of Russian attacks and the security of shipping in the Black Sea. At the initiative of Anja Hazekamp, a Dutch MEP from the left-wing group, a clause expressing regret over the lifting of the ban on imports of Russian mink fur was included in the final text. The Parliament called on the EU Council and the European Commission to restore the restriction. As DW reports, the call itself does not mean the ban will automatically return.

How the exemption appeared

According to EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Joseph Sikela, the ban on imports of Russian furs, including mink, was originally proposed by the European Commission. The restriction was introduced in April, but in July all 27 member states unanimously agreed to make an exemption for mink. Sikela said that some EU states themselves requested this, citing the dependence of their fur industry on Russian raw materials and the impossibility of replacing it with supplies from other countries. He did not disclose which countries exactly requested the exemption. The Commissioner stressed that changing sanctions, as well as restoring the ban, requires the unanimous consent of all members of the EU Council.

Debates in Parliament

Krzysztof Brejza, from the largest group — the European People's Party — criticized the exemption: in his view, any funds flowing into the Russian economy finance the war, and every exemption from sanctions demonstrates weakness to Putin. Finn Katri Kulmuni, from the liberal group Renew Europe, acknowledged that almost all mink fur is produced in Russia and that imports are important for businesses in Greece and Italy, but stated that this does not justify softening the sanctions. She recalled that Finland itself suffered major economic losses from the cessation of trade and tourism with Russia, and noted that it is wrong when countries support sanctions only when the difficulties affect others.

Context

According to DW, Brussels is currently preparing the 22nd sanctions package against Russia.