EU Court Upholds Sanctions Against Russian Maritime Certifier

The Luxembourg-based court’s decision keeps vital infrastructure protections in place, preventing ships certified by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMRS) from accessing European maritime facilities. The RMRS currently oversees 4,207 vessels, with 3,772 carrying the Russian flag, including ice-breakers, tankers, and cargo ships. By opting for suspension over permanent withdrawal, the court signaled that the initial sanctions package exceeded necessary legal limits.

This legal battle unfolds against a backdrop of escalating tensions regarding the security of European maritime infrastructure. Recent months have seen reports of Russian fishing trawlers lingering near subsea cables connecting Europe and the United States, alongside suspected interference with infrastructure near the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard and within the Baltic Sea. Brussels continues to categorize these incidents as part of a broader campaign of hybrid warfare, which encompasses cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and drone strikes against grain shipments in the Black Sea.