TALLINN - Estonian Minister of Infrastructure Vladimir Svet and Finnish Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne emphasized in a letter sent to European Commissioner for Transport Apostolos Tzitzikostas that the two countries need greater support from the European Union in combating Russia's shadow fleet.
The ministers said that Russia's shadow fleet seriously threatens the security and environment of the European Union, particularly in the Baltic Sea region.
"The shadow fleet often consists of older ships in poor technical condition, which often lack adequate insurance and may not be suitable for navigation in current ice conditions. These ships pose a significant threat to both the environment and critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea," Svet and Ranne said.
Estonia and Finland are working closely with the European Union, NATO, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and other Baltic Sea countries to curb the shadow fleet's activities.
"Adding ships to the European Union sanctions list has been an important step in the fight against the shadow fleet, but it does not solve the problem -- additional measures are needed," the ministers said.
The ministers added that at upcoming IMO and UN meetings, the EU and member states should jointly emphasize the risks the shadow fleet poses to global maritime safety. They also highlighted the need to strengthen the European Maritime Safety Agency's (EMSA) pollution response capabilities in the Baltic Sea region.
"It is crucial to permanently station at least one EMSA vessel in the Baltic Sea that can handle oil spills even in winter conditions. A large oil spill would be catastrophic for the environment, especially in icy conditions," Svet and Ranne noted.
The ministers also added that, in light of recent events, there is a need for a cable repair vessel in the Baltic Sea. In this regard, Svet and Ranne promised to work closely with the European Commission's Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, as well as its Vice-President Henna Virkkunen.
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