WorldECR | Denmark should ‘consider banning Russian ships from straits’: PACE resolution

A resolution adopted on 26 June by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(“PACE”) suggested that sanctions against Russia could be made more effective if
Russian ships were to be denied navigation rights through the Denmark Strait.

This proposal is one of several contained in the resolution. It reads as follows:

“The Danish Straits are located mainly in Danish territorial waters and represent a point of
passage for about a third of Russian oil exports. According to international law,
Denmark may not obstruct the transit of foreign ships through Danish straits,
unless they appear to be breaking environmental rules. At the same time,
The European Union sanctions also apply to the territorial waters of its member states.

“The Assembly therefore calls on the Danish authorities, in cooperation with other
States and relevant international actors should convene a think tank to examine the
measures that Denmark may apply, in accordance with international law, to prevent
ships to exploit freedom of navigation in the Danish straits to circumvent the
‘international sanctions system.’

Among other suggestions in the resolution, it is suggested that other Council of Europe states
should:

“Strengthening compliance with the oil price ceiling by including ships in the “ghost fleet”
fleet” assembled by the Russian Federation and its accomplices, by banning them, and
establish a white list of brokers authorized to provide information concerning
transactions below the price ceiling;

“Ensure that other strategic sources of Russian revenue are also targeted, including
liquefied natural gas and pipeline gas, as well as agricultural, metallurgical and nuclear gas
industries, by prohibiting both the direct importation and the resale of related products; and,

“Prohibit the export of essential raw materials, manufactured goods for the battlefield and dual-use goods
articles to the Russian Federation, especially those that could contribute to war
efforts and hinder access to their transportation centers, services and financial resources.
‘assistance to all carriers transporting these goods to the Russian Federation.’

For more information, please visit the PACE website: https://pace.coe.int/en/files/33684/html