On the last day of Poland's presidency in the EU Council, it was possible to extend the next six months of 17 sanction packages imposed so far by the community to Russia in connection with its aggression against Ukraine. The decision was made unanimously.
A political agreement on the extension of the restrictions was at the top of the heads of EU states and governments on Thursday. Hungary and Slovakia also gave green light. However, these two countries suspend the adoption of the 18th Sanction Package, which was proposed by the European Commission, and which the Polish Presidency practically finished the work.
The decision to extend all the restrictions imposed on Russia was made as part of the written procedure, which lasted until 11 on Monday. Nobody raised an objection.
Sanctions, including freezing of the assets of the Russian Central Bank, a ban on broadcasting Kremlin propaganda programs such as RT and exclusion from the SWIFT system of Russian banks will apply until the end of January 2026.
This means that the restrictions were extended a month before the deadline. “We avoided drama at the last minute this time,” said one of the EU diplomats, referring to the situation from January, when Hungary stopped the last possible moment.
This time – as the EU source reported – sanctions were extended without any problems. The agreement was reached extremely quickly. When the chairman of the European Council Antonio Costa raised this issue at the end of the summit on Thursday evening, none of the leaders raised an objection. The next day, the Polish presidency added this point to the EU ambassadors program – he went without discussion. Then the written procedure began.
In addition to sectoral sanctions, covering the energy areas through finances to the media, nearly 2.4 thousand are covered by the restrictions. people and entities related to Russian aggression. The EU Black List also applies only for half a year – member countries will have to communicate on its extension before September 15.
In turn, the eighteenth sectoral sanctions package includes, among others Nord Stream gas pipelines, more Russian banks, ships from the so -called shadow fleets, as well as a ban on exporting products critically important for the development of the Russian arms industry.
Slovakia and Hungary as the reason for their opposition to this package indicate the total ban on the import of Russian gas proposed by the European Commission from 2028. The ban is to be introduced by a regulation, to which only the qualified majority is required (“for” 15 countries constituting 65 percent of the population), not a unanimous decision.
On Thursday, the EC delegation will go to Slovakia to talk about potential solutions that are to strengthen the certainty of gas supply to this country after the shopping from Russia was terminated.
The duties also up
Entering into force on July 1 this year. The EU regulation increasing duties to fertilizers imported from Russia and Belarus is aimed at protecting European agriculture and chemical industry – the Minister of State Asset Jakub Jaworowski assessed in Monday's communiqué.
The ministry reminded that on May 22, 2025, the European Parliament adopted a regulation introducing higher duties on fertilizers from Russia and Belarus. In addition to the current customs rate of 6.5 percent An additional fee will be added to these products, initially in the amount of EUR 40-45 per ton, which will gradually increase to EUR 315–430 per ton in 2028.
As the head of the map pointed out, the dynamic increase in the import of fertilizers from Russia and Belarus is an element of economic pressure that Russia exerts on the European Union.
“The dynamic increase in the import of fertilizers from Russia and Belarus is part of the hybrid war conducted by Russia against EU countries. Its purpose is to long -term weakening of the food safety of the Union by destroying the chemical industry. It is worth emphasizing that in the case of nitrogen fertilizers from 60 to 80 % of production costs, the price of gas – the raw material, on which the EU has imposed sanctions” – explains the minister of Jaworowski.
The ministry reminded that in November 2024 Poland was the initiator of the joint letter of ministers of the Polish economies, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to the European Commission, calling on a committee to take decisive steps to increase customs rates on fertilizers from Russia and Belarus. In addition, the Minister of Development and Technology coincided with a letter to the European Commission, prepared on the initiative of Sweden, appealing to increase duties on all goods from these countries.
“The introduction of duties will help protect Polish fertilizer producers from the flood of cheap imports from Russia and Belarus and will improve the situation of the entire industry. It is also part of a larger plan to strengthen European industry and reduce the financing of the Russian war machine” – summed up the head of the map.
Despite the imposition of 17 sanction packages on Russia in connection with its invasion of Ukraine, the import of fertilizers from this country and the allied Belarus was not only continued, but even increased. In 2023, Russian fertilizers accounted for over 25 percent. total imports of the Union in this sector. About 3.6 million tons of EUR 1.28 billion entered the EU. In turn, in the first eight months of 2024, these fertilizers accounted for 52 percent. total imports, bringing EUR 1.2 billion in income.
