The guidelines published in August by the European Commission have hampered the exports of Russian agrifood products for one month.
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Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin accuses Europeans of starving the world with their sanctions against Russia. For months, the twenty-seven have been trying to convince Africa, Asia and South America that it is nothing. But this summer, the commission, to its defending body, gave arguments to the Kremlin by complicating the exports of Russian fertilizer and wheat. The case finally settled on September 19, after more than a month and a half during which the community executive seemed to float.
A little step back is essential to better understand the progress of this story: in July, the twenty-seven discuss a seventh pack of sanctions, which must complete the previous six and reduce the possibilities of bypass. While in Africa, in particular, but also, to a lesser extent to the UN, they are accused of endangering global food security with their restrictive measures, they are also keen to lift all the ambiguities relating to the exports of Russian agrifood goods. These products are not subject to sanctions, but the situation is less clear if we look at maritime transport, the insurance sector or the banking system.
At the same time, negotiations between Moscow and kyiv are held, under the aegis of the UN and with Ankara, to allow Ukrainian cereals blocked for months in the ports of the Black Sea D ‘Be transported to other regions. The Kremlin demands, in this context, that all the barriers to the export of its wheat and especially its fertilizers are lifted.
the secure maritime corridors
On July 21, community regulations were published. The twenty-seven undertake to “avoid any measure likely to be a source of food insecurity all over the world” and affirm that “no” sanction “aims in any way, the exchanges of agricultural products and food, including wheat and fertilizers, between third countries and Russia “. The next day, in Istanbul, in the presence of the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, and Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian and Ukrainian representatives signed an agreement that makes it possible to relaunch the exports of Ukrainian cereals by setting up Secure maritime corridors.
patatras! On August 10, a communication from the Commission struck this beautiful choreography and threaten the building that is difficult to build. That day, the community executive published the “guidelines” supposed to help the various European economic players to apply the sanctions as best as possible. In essence, this document claims that a product can be transported, nor ensure its transport, without specifying that this prohibition does not concern agrifood products.
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