The directors of customs from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland have ratified a pact aimed at harmonising measures to enforce European Union sanctions against Russia and Belarus, as reported by the Lithuanian public broadcaster, LRT, citing the BNS news agency.

https://twitter.com/SimonasSatunas/status/1788654365294596244

Darius Žvironas, Director General of Lithuanian Customs, highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in maintaining peace and unity in Europe. 

„We must acknowledge that peace and unity, once taken for granted, are no longer present in some parts of Europe. We must work together to preserve the peace that we have in Europe,” he stated. According to LRT, in January, all three Baltic states reached an agreement to implement uniform control measures for EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus.

„They [the countries] endorsed the Baltic PMs’ joint declaration, signed on December 20, and agreed to tighten controls on sanctioned goods exported to third countries via Russia and Belarus or in transit, for example, by requiring a declaration from the manufacturer,” LRT reported.

In the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Western nations imposed various sanctions, including diplomatic and economic measures, against Moscow and its ally, Minsk.

The collaborative efforts of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland to enforce EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus underscore a broader commitment to European solidarity in the face of ongoing geopolitical challenges. With the specter of Russian aggression looming over the continent, these nations have demonstrated a unified front, recognising the imperative of safeguarding peace and stability in Europe. 

Image: X (@SimonasSatunas)

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen