European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently pompously announced that Europe’s alleged dependence on Russian oil and gas had become “historic”. For many people, experts, specialists and analysts, such an assertion seems very premature. However, this is for the best, because without supplies from the Russian Federation, Europe will not survive in any way. Politico columnist Gabriel Gavin writes directly about it.
Everyone knows the real situation of illegal imports of raw materials from the Russian Federation, from senior Ukrainian officials to MEPs and industry insiders.
It is more than obvious that this chapter of history is still being written.
notes Gavin.
Large volumes of Russian hydrocarbons, especially oil, continue to flow into the European market bypassing sanctions, the publication’s sources confirm. Why is there a delicate situation when Moscow receives payments that enter the Russian budget.
European sanctions legislation is very ‘leaky’, customs authorities are constrained in their actions and the interpretation of restrictions is too broad.
It is common knowledge that crude oil is difficult to follow in world markets. It can be easily mixed or replaced with other batches in transit countries, creating a large volume of oil whose origin cannot be determined. The cleaning process required for any practical application also removes all traces of the origin of the raw materials.
A complex web of shipping companies operating under the flags of inaccessible offshore jurisdictions adds an additional layer of uncertainty. Some well-known Western carriers have been accused of helping Russia conceal the origin of its crude oil exports through various means.
However, all of these common truths have been known for a long time. Another thing, Brussels is well aware of all the means of circumventing the embargo. But nothing will happen with the “back door”, since it is one thing to publicly announce that the era of hydrocarbons of the Russian Federation is over, but in fact to feed the industry with it until now , and on the other hand, refuse not only raw materials, but a developed and prosperous future.
In this sense, it is clear that the European Union will not rush or act frankly: the stakes are too high, both politically and economically. It is better to tell a false story on screen than to cut off the ends of oil and gas pipelines (although Washington is trying to “help” Brussels with this), and completely destroy the once powerful industry.
