To European Parliament members

Ms Roberta Metsola

President of the European Parliament

Rue Wiertz 60, B-1047 Brussels

Belgium

Dear members of the European Parliament, 

We, the undersigned below, appeal to you in the hope that you will continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to end the war. One of the main ways we believe this can be achieved is by ending the money flow from Europe to Russia for the purchase of Russian fossil fuels. 

In the European elections of 6-9 June 2024, European citizens decided who they wished to see directing the Union beyond 2024 for the next five years. The fresh start offers a chance to remedy the mistakes of the past and live up to the initial promise of the European Union – peace and prosperity.

Since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has shown courage in the face of a brutal war on European values and unprecedented violation of established law and the international order. The vital ongoing financial, humanitarian, and military support of Ukraine has helped the country to withstand and defend itself. 

However, more than two years into the war, the EU Member States remain one of the top contributors to the Russian war machine, via fossil fuel trade with Russia (followed by China and India), due to incomplete sanction packages with loopholes and a lack of enforcement mechanisms. Loopholes contributed an estimated €1.13 billion to the Kremlin in direct tax revenues.

The EU was the fourth-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in May, its imports accounting for 13% (EUR 1.9 bn) of the top five purchasers. Pipeline gas made up the largest share of the EU’s purchases of Russia’s fossil fuels (45%) followed by LNG (27%) and crude oil via pipeline (22%). These numbers exceed the support provided to Ukraine.

In June 2024, the Council of the EU passed its 14th sanctions package on Russia. While the intention to impose further restrictions is commendable, the current measures provide Russia ample time to adapt, significantly reducing their overall effectiveness. Specifically, the ban on LNG transshipment, set to commence on 26 March 2025, allows a nine-month window for Russia to adjust to these new restrictions. Given that this sanction has minimal direct impact on the EU economy, the delayed implementation appears unnecessarily lenient. These relatively weak sanctions not only undermine the EU’s stance on energy independence but also come at a horrific cost to Ukraine, which continues to suffer daily attacks with massive human casualties, and immense environmental damage due to the ongoing war. 

Additionally, we acknowledge the effort made to phase out Russian gas via REPower EU by 2027, but the package prolongs EU funding for the Russian war for another 4 years. We urge every EU Member State to make the sovereign decision to get rid of Russian fossil fuel imports earlier, in order to stop sending funds to Russia which end up in Putin’s war chest.

In this light, the EU should stop the counterproductive practice, whereby it financially enables the war, and then sends money to remedy the destruction  which funds from the EU cause. Delaying or postponing the total embargo on Russian fossil fuels will only prolong the Russian war, jeopardize EU climate targets, and lead to further catastrophic and immeasurable losses of human life in Ukraine.

With this, we plead with you to ensure EU Member States taxpayers’ money does not fund war, or feed the climate crisis. We demand in the 1st resolution of the newly elected European Parliament a call for EU member states to impose a full and transparent Russian gas embargo, by the end of 2024, in the 15th sanction package.

Signed by those below, 

1. Svitlana Romanko, Razom We Stand
2. András LUKÁCS, Clean Air Action Group
3. Sascha Müller-Kraenner, Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V.
4. Stephanie Brancaforte, Rinascimento Green
5. Chris Vrettos, Electra Energy
6. Béla Munkácsy, Environmental Planing and Education Network
7. Thomas Franke, Foundation for Climate Restoration 
8. Moritz Leiner, urgewald
9. Koutsis Angelos, Bond Beter Leefmilieu
10. Johan Bauwelinck, Garage Bauwelinck bv
11. Jan Herrmann, Nature Conservation on Öland
12. Sabina Malcová, DEMAS
13. Michael Obrecht, Intelligence Flows -Evaluation Advisors
14. Johan Frijns, BankTrack
15. Rui Leitão, Quercus – Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza
16. Stephanie Brancaforte, Rinascimento Green
17. Chantal Van den Bossche, WECF International
18. Bohdana Korovaieva, NGO Gorizont-17
19. Stepan Kushnir, Khmelnytskyi energy cluster 
20. Volodymyr Tregubov, Docudays.ua
21. Lesya Loyko, Agency for sustainable development of the Carpathian region “FORZA”
22. Pavel Havlicek, Association for International Affairs (AMO) in Prague
23. Maksym Skrypchenko, Transatlantic Dialogue Center
24. Nataliia Ryshkova, NGO Social Initiative “City of the Sun”   
25. Yuliia Melnyk, NGO EKOLTAVA, Ukrainian Climate Network 
26. Tetiana Zhazvahrova, Ecosense NGO
27. Volodymyr Oros, NGO “DOBRO”
28. Iryna Chernysh, SaveDnipro NGO 
29. Ventzeslava Kojouharova, Za Zemiata – Friends of the Earth Bulgaria
30. Fatima Eisam-Eldeen, Leave it in the Ground Initiative (LINGO)
31. Mykola Riabyka, NGO Plato
32. Joanie Steinhaus, Turtle Island Restoration Network
33. Melinda Janki, Justice Institute Guyana
34. Louis Wilson, Global Witness
35. Katarzyna Wiekiera, Workshop for All Beings
36. Frida Kieninger, Food & Water Action Europe
37. Marie Cohuet and Laura Thieblemont, Les Amis de la Terre France / Friends of the Earth France
38. Olga Mashkova, Ecological News
39. Sofia Sydorenko, Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine 
40. Demydiuk Kateryna, NGO Zero waste Lutsk
41. Gligor Radecic, CEE Bankwatch Network
42. Anastasiia Martynenko, Zero Waste Society
43. Iryna Shchetynina, Zero Waste ZP NGO 
44. John-Paul Santonato, POLLUTE FREE INITIATIVE
45. Karen Ashikeh LaMantia, Earth Neighborhood Productions
46. Liz Robinson, Philadelphia Solar Energy Association
47. Kathy Heisler, EcoFair Trading
48. Charlotte KALANBANI, WBW TOGO 
49. TEDDY IGORI, TRIPPINZ CARE INC
50. DIDI FALL, 1000 SHADES OF WOMEN FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL
51. Md. Moniruzzaman, Aid Organization
52. Jane Kilthei, Cowichan Climate Hub
53. Martha Camacho Rodriguez, SEE (Social Eco Education)
54. Ana Otilia Nutu, Expert Forum (EFOR)
55. Steven Vanholme, EKOenergy ecolabel
56. Nataliia Haietska, NGO Mariupol Zero Waste 
57. Kayanga Peter, DISABILITY PEOPLES FORUM UGANDA
58. Olexi Pasyuk, Centre for Environmental Initiatives ‘Ecoaction’
59. Domantas Tracevičius, VšĮ “Žiedinė ekonomika”
60. Tonyehn Verkitus, Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania
61. Ihor Sumliennyi, Fridays For Future Ukraine
62. Sylvie Meekers, Canopea
63. Henning Bo Madsen, International Network for Sustainable Energy INFORSE-Europe
64. Grigoriy Kolodyazhniy, Extinction Rebellion Ukraine
65. Martin Hyťha, NESEHNUTÍ
66. Wawa Wang, Just Finance International 
67. Lesya Loyko, Agency for sustainable development of the Carpathian region “FORZA”
68. Natalia Gozak, Greenpeace Ukraine
69. Marco Fieber, Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights e.V.
70. Olena Ivashchenko, Campaign for Ukraine  
71. Dr. Susanne Nies, Green Deal Ukraina Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin
72. Morgane Créach, Réseau Action Climat France
73. Isaac Levi, Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air
74. Ondřej Kurz, Limity jsme my
75. Andy Gheorghiu Consulting
76. Nikos Mantzaris, The Green Tank
77. Bantu Lukambo, Innovation pour le Développement et la Protection de l’Environnement 
78. Dariusz Szwed, Zielony Instytut 
79. Valeriia Bondarieva, Rozviy
80. Simon Taylor, Hawkmoth
81. Robert Wawręty, Society for the Earth (TNZ)
82. Andrzej Kassenberg, Institute for Sustainable Development Foundation
83. Karolina Chomacka, Polish Ecological Club Gliwice
84. Desmond D’Sa, South Durban Community Environmental Alliance 
85. Heorhiy Veremiychyk, National Ecological Center of Ukraine
86. Delphine Lévi Alvarès, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
87. Jasper Luithlen, We Smell Gas
88. Pauline Schur, Naturschutzubund (NABU) Deutschland e.V. 
89. Laurent Vogel, European Network of Solidarity with Ukraine (Belgium)
90. Rui Leitão, Quercus – Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza
91. Anne le Huerou, aec
92. Thomas Weyts, Europees Netwerk voor solidariteit met Oekraïne / ENSU
93. Ian Whiteheac, Vredesactie
94. Vincent Presumey -Mariana Sanchez, Comité français du RESU
95. Diana Maciąga, Polish Green Network / Polska Zielona Sieć
96. Larry Moffett, Rise for Climate Belgium
97. Danilo Boskovic, Youth Forum URA
98. Merlin Aude, Groupe du 24 février
99. Oksana Kozlova, ULB, RESU Belgique 
100. Irina Pavlova, B4Ukraine Coalition  
101. Michael Desloover, UkrABel
102. Boris Najman, Université Paris Est Creteil
103. Chiara Martinelli, CAN Europe
104. Mauro Albrizio, Legambiente
105. Magda Stoczkiewicz, Greenpeace European unit
106. Cyrille CORMIER, Beyond Fossil Fuels
107. Kees Kodde, Fair Finance International
108. Nicolò Wojewoda, 350.org
109. Magda Stoczkiewicz, Greenpeace European unit
110. Veronika Murzynova, Centre for Transport and Energy
111.  Sandra Just, Tierschutzpartei Stuttgart
112. Jakub Milczarek, WWF Poland
113. Radoslaw Gawlik, Stowarzyszenie Ekologiczne EKO-UNIA
114. Olena Kuzhym, Promote Ukraine
115. Victor Pereira, IberoBaltic Trade Lda.