In a written answer on 18 June 2026, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, on behalf of the European Commission, confirmed that the drifting Russian shadow-fleet tanker Arctic Metagaz no longer contains flammable content and that no related oil spills were detected, while pledging to further enhance maritime domain awareness and information sharing among Member States. The answer addresses a parliamentary question submitted on 18 March 2026 by S&D MEPs Thomas Bajada and Giuseppe Lupo, who raised concerns about risks to Malta and the Italian Pelagie Islands from the damaged vessel drifting in international waters.
The Commission stated that it monitored the situation from 3 March to 30 April 2026 via the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), providing satellite imagery through Integrated Maritime Surveillance, and that its Emergency Response Coordination Centre facilitated coordination and information exchange among authorities. While noting that the vessel is no longer in the vicinity of Malta or the Italian Pelagie Islands, the Commission acknowledged that such incidents pose risks to vulnerable coastal and island territories, sensitive marine ecosystems, fisheries, and critical infrastructure including desalination-dependent water supply systems.
The answer contains concrete operational commitments: the Commission will continue working with Member States, EMSA, and international partners to ensure preparedness and effective response, and supports coastguard cooperation in the Mediterranean through the Mediterranean Coast Guard Function Forum (MEDCGFF). It also encourages Member States to step up their efforts in the maritime domain to address complex challenges. The Commission did not announce new legislative proposals or numerical targets, but signalled ongoing refinement of the Union Maritime Information and Exchange System (SafeSeaNet) and broader maritime surveillance tools.
Policy orientation: The Commission emphasises the seriousness of environmental threats from the shadow fleet and the need for continuous monitoring and inter-state cooperation, but stops short of proposing new binding EU measures. The answer balances reassurance (no spill, vessel moved away) with a call for enhanced preparedness, leaving the door open for future EU-level contingency planning. Institutional follow-up is likely to involve further technical work by EMSA and the Commission's maritime safety services, with possible updates to the EU's maritime security strategy or contingency frameworks in the coming months.