Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič has defended the EU's approach to restricting imports of Russian aluminium and other strategic commodities, arguing that existing sanctions strike a careful balance between weakening Russia's war finances and avoiding harm to EU member states and industry. In a written answer to a parliamentary question, Šefčovič highlighted the 16th sanctions package, which banned imports of primary Russian aluminium as of 26 February 2026, with only a small quota of 50,000 metric tonnes allowed for pre-existing contracts until end-2026.
The answer was given in response to a question from Renew MEPs Bart Groothuis, Petras Auštrevičius, Karin Karlsbro, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Ľubica Karvašová, Pascal Canfin, and Dan Barna, who had raised concerns that imports of Russian aluminium, fertilisers, and nickel remain high, undermining sanctions and harming European producers. They noted that Russian aluminium enters indirectly via Türkiye as semi-finished products, and that discounted ingots undercut EU manufacturers.
Šefčovič's answer contains concrete measures: the primary aluminium ban and the quota system. However, it offers only vague commitments on further action, stating the Commission 'is ready to consider appropriate actions, if necessary' and that sanctions are 'kept under regular review.' No specific plans for an indirect ban on processed aluminium or mandatory smelt-and-cast reporting were announced.
Policy orientation and expected follow-up The answer signals a cautious, pragmatic approach: the Commission prioritises balancing sanctions impact with economic stability, avoiding abrupt disruptions for industry. The 16th package already addresses the core demand of banning primary aluminium, but the question of indirect imports via third countries remains unresolved. The Commission's monitoring of processed aluminium imports suggests possible future action, but no timeline or concrete proposal is given. Any new sanctions would require unanimous Council approval, a high political hurdle. The answer provides no specific follow-up mechanism with Parliament beyond general review. Stakeholders: EU aluminium producers face continued competition from Russian-origin processed aluminium; EU consumers may benefit from lower prices but at the cost of sanctions effectiveness; Russian exporters lose direct access but may reroute via third countries; EU member states with industrial dependencies gain transition time via the quota.
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