EU lifts sanctions on Russian sable fur: Italy and Greece were the initiators

The European Commission has confirmed the suspension of sanctions on imports of Russian sable fur under the existing restrictive measures against Russia.

This was reported by Euractiv.

The decision was included in Brussels’ latest package of sanctions against Moscow, agreed last week. According to European Commissioner Jozef Síkela, the exemption of sable fur from import restrictions was supported by all 27 European Union member states.

The European Commission explained the decision by pointing to European producers’ dependence on supplies of this raw material, for which, in the assessment of several countries, no equivalent alternatives exist.

“A number of EU members stated that their industries depend on this very specific product and have no alternative sources of supply. As a result, all 27 countries unanimously agreed to introduce targeted exemptions for sable pelts,” — Síkela said at a special hearing in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Italy and Greece were the initiators of lifting the sanctions on sable fur.

Earlier, the outlet reported that the European Commission had not supported Washington’s proposal to resume purchases of Russian gas and its transit through Ukraine.