The Russian Federation continues to illegally supply timber to the European Union using roundabout routes through third countries. Such activities remain a problem for international trade, and also jeopardize environmental sustainability and economic agreements between states. An investigation conducted by the British organization Earthsight revealed significant volumes of Russian timber entering European markets, indicating large-scale violations of sanctions.
According to Earthsight, since 2022, more than half a million cubic meters of Russian timber have entered EU markets. This was made possible by routes through third countries that act as intermediaries in the transportation of timber. This practice allowed Russia to earn more than 1.5 billion euros, despite the existing restrictions and bans imposed by the EU.
These volumes of shipments are a cause for concern in environmental and economic circles, as Russia continues to exploit its resources on a large scale, without regard to international agreements. In addition, such trafficking damages the reputation of European importers, who may not always be aware of the origin of raw materials.
The significant multimillion-dollar profits that Russia receives from timber exports directly contradict the sanctions imposed on the country in response to various international conflicts and human rights violations. Therefore, there is an urgent need to strengthen and improve timber import control mechanisms to ensure compliance with established rules and obligations.
About one hundred organizations from Ukraine and other countries signed a statement demanding that the European Union increase sanctions pressure on Russia, in particular with regard to timber imports. This call is supported by international norms and the desire for fair trade without dependence on illegal resource flows.
The European Parliament recently adopted a resolution calling on the European Commission and EU member states to develop and implement broader sanctions against Russia and Belarus. This document envisages a number of measures aimed at countering illegal trafficking of timber and other resources from these countries.
The initiative aimed at countering illegal trade envisages several main areas of action. First, it is to strengthen control over imports to the EU, including more thorough checks of documents of origin. Secondly, it is necessary to develop coordination between EU countries in the fight against such violations.
In addition, plans are being considered to introduce a system of digital tracking of the movement of goods, which will increase transparency and control over supply chains. This will help reduce the risks of illegal entry of prohibited goods into European markets.
The active position of the European Parliament and further initiatives regarding sanctions against Russia are important steps towards protecting European markets from illegal influence. Thus, it becomes possible to ensure a more sustainable development of the European economy, reducing the risks of environmental and economic negative impacts from the actions of individual states.
