MEP Nikolaos Anadiotis (NI) has submitted a written parliamentary question to the European Commission, pressing for an assessment of how EU sanctions against Russia have affected the centuries-old fur industry in Kastoria, Greece, and urging specific support measures to preserve the sector.
In the question, dated 13 June 2026, Anadiotis argues that the sanctions, combined with the absence of a just transition plan for the region, have led to the loss of up to 90% of exports, triggering business closures, job losses, and economic and demographic decline. He points out that the fur trade has been a pillar of Kastoria's economy and cultural heritage for over five centuries.
whether the Commission has assessed the economic and social impact of the sanctions on Kastoria's fur trade; whether it intends to consider specific support measures to preserve local expertise and production; and whether special transitional arrangements are possible for areas suffering serious economic damage due to the sanctions.
Anadiotis's initiative highlights a tension between EU foreign policy objectives—maintaining sanctions pressure on Russia—and the protection of traditional crafts and historic professions, which EU policies claim to safeguard. The fur industry in Kastoria, a niche but historically significant sector, faces an existential threat, with stakeholders including local businesses, workers, and the broader regional economy bearing the brunt.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its response will signal whether it views the damage as a collateral cost of sanctions that must be accepted, or whether it is open to targeted compensatory measures. The outcome could set a precedent for other EU regions adversely affected by geopolitical decisions.