Ref. Ares(2024)8534693 - 29/11/2024
European
Commission
Valdis DOMBROVSKIS Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ
Executive Vice- President Executive Vice- President
of the European Commission of the European Commission
An Economy that Works for People European Green Deal Interinstitutional Relations
and Foresight
Mr Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Denmark
Mr Erkki Keldo, Minister of Economy and Industry, Estonia
Mr Ville Tavio, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Finland
Mr Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ireland
Ms Baiba Braže, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Latvia
Mr Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister for Int. Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Lithuania
Mr Krzysztof Paszyk, Minister of Economic Development and Technology, Poland
Mr Benjamin Dousa, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Sweden
Brussels, 2 9 NOV. 2024
Dear Ministers,
Thank you for your letter calling on the Commission to present a comprehensive proposal to
further increase tariffs for the broadest possible range of imports into the European Union of
Russian and Belarusian products.
To date, through EU restrictive measures (sanctions) the EU has achieved a significant trade
decoupling from Russia, with 61% of pre-war EU imports from Russia (in 2021 terms) being
restricted. In addition, the Grain Tariff Regulation that entered into force on 1 July covered a
further 1% of pre-war imports from Russia, or 85% of previous EU agricultural imports from
Russia.
The goods for which EU imports from Russia have not yet been restricted - either under
sanctions or increased import tariffs - are the remaining 15% of agriculture imports, some energy
products - by decreasing order of importance of remaining imports flows: natural gas, crude
pipeline oil, seaborne crude oil into Bulgaria, and nuclear energy, - critical raw materials, and
some types of fertilisers.
Based on the European Council conclusions of 17 October, where the Leaders have confirmed
their readiness to further limit Russia’s ability to wage war and which referred to additional
import tariffs on Russian and Belarusian agricultural products, and as mentioned during the FAC
Trade meeting on 21 November, we are working on a proposal for further restrictions to be put
forward in parallel to the ongoing work towards the 15th and 16th sanctions packages.
Russia’s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been on-going for over 1 000 days. It is
therefore essential that we consider all possibilities and potential options when it comes to our
objective of limiting Russia’s ability to wage war against Ukraine. The Commission is committed
to continue increasing pressure on Russia.
Yours sincerely,
Valdis Dombrovskis
Electronically signed on 29/11/2024 19:02 (UTC+01) in accordance with Article 11 of Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2121
Erkki Keldo 03.12.2024 nr 10.1-13/1259-1
Majandus- ja tööstusminister
Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium
Austatud minister
Edastame Teile Euroopa Komisjoni asepresidendi Valdis Dombrovskise ja Euroopa Komisjoni
asepresidendi Maroš Šefcoviči kirja, 29. November 2024, nr Ares(2024)8534693.
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