Leading EU member states are calling on Brussels to tweak its sanctions on Moscow to make a clearer exemption for supplies of Russian grain and fertiliser, claiming the current rules are delaying vital shipments to poor countries.

Germany, France and the Netherlands are among the countries urging the European Commission to introduce an amendment clarifying the sanctions around Russia’s food exports, according to a position paper seen by the Financial Times.

African nations struggling with shortages of food and agricultural feedstocks have attacked the EU sanctions. Macky Sall, Senegal’s president and chair of the African Union, claimed the continent had become “collateral damage” in the western allies’ clampdown on Russia.

While the commission has provided guidance to EU countries to permit passage of Russian grain and fertilisers, governments and transport operators said it was not robust enough to guarantee legal protection.

“The current legal situation contributes to criticism that sanctions actually hinder trade in food and fertilisers,” said the paper by the group of member states, which also includes Spain, Belgium and Portugal.

The paper claims shipments are sometimes getting held in European ports for longer than is necessary, because companies are worried about taking part in transactions with Russian groups that are owned by individuals under sanctions.

Financial institutions, insurers, transporters and wholesalers are reluctant to participate in commercial dealings in the export of Russian food and fertiliser, disrupting supply chains, according to the paper.

There was now an “undesirable” situation where the EU is stricter on agricultural transactions than the US and UK. “This seems in contradiction with the general EU policy on food security,” the paper stated.

The commission insisted that none of its sanctions targeted trade in agricultural and food products, including wheat and fertiliser.

A spokesperson pointed to guidance explaining that the transit and transfer of Russian fertilisers to non-EU countries was permitted, adding that the guidance had helped unblock a few individual consignments of fertilisers that were temporarily stuck in ports in member states.

“If third countries wish to buy Russian fertilisers, there are no EU sanctions that would prohibit this — in fact, Russian exports of fertilisers to third countries have not decreased,” said the spokesperson.

The African Union has complained since May that the EU is blocking shipments, leading some countries in the continent to warm to Russia’s diplomatic advances.

Sall visited Moscow in June in a propaganda coup for President Vladimir Putin. Of the 35 countries that abstained in an October vote at the UN condemning Russia’s annexation of areas of Ukraine it had occupied during its invasion, about half were African.

The UN’s World Food Programme has said that 345mn people face acute food insecurity in the 82 countries where the agency operates. The war in Ukraine had added 70mn to the number.

The African Development Bank has said the continent is 2mn tonnes short of fertiliser ahead of the planting season, which starts shortly.

“With the disruption of food supplies arising from the Russia-Ukraine war, Africa now faces a shortage of at least 30mn metric tonnes of food, especially wheat, maize, and soyabeans imported from both countries,” it added.

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The EU member states behind the paper pointed to a UN-brokered deal for the delivery of tens of thousands of tonnes of fertiliser from Russian producer Uralchem that had been delayed in EU ports.

Their paper asked for a clear sentence introduced in the sanctions exempting “funds or economic resources that are strictly necessary for the purchase, import, export or transport of agricultural and food products, including wheat and fertilisers, or to economic resources that are such agricultural or food products”.

“It int

what a predicament for the EU, dialogue have always been the way of peace... good luck to them all

Sapa wan kill them . If you're big you're big and Russia is big no allow anybody fool you.


Instead of going straight to the point that it's the EU that needs the grain that are using poor nations as cover . Awon werey dey disguise EU needs the grain the most currently because things are getting pretty bad but their Media is doing a perfect job in subduing the news

One of the main reason Africa leaderslooters need to wake up.
Why don’t AU launch Africa owned means of supply, production and payment without using Dollars or Euros.
We need our own money system that works like SWIFT CODE.
This war should open our leaders eyes, all those money they looted to Paris and London, will disappear just like EU did Russians

seunny4lif:
One of the main reason Africa leaderslooters need to wake up.
Why don’t AU launch Africa owned means of supply, production and payment without using Dollars or Euros.
We need our own money system that works like SWIFT CODE.
This war should open our leaders eyes, all those money they looted to Paris and London, will disappear just like EU did Russians

The moment we start that, you'll see Libya part two again. Those bastard's will do anything to keep their hegemony which is why Russia is giving them terrible headache. The moment Saudi joins BRICS or they're partnership with China to buy crude in Chinese currency is agreed, the multipolar world order will be well cemented

Adjovi:




The moment we start that, you'll see Libya part two again. Those bastard's will do anything to keep their hegemony which is why Russia is giving them terrible headache. The moment Saudi joins BRICS or they're partnership with China to buy crude in Chinese currency is agreed, the multipolar world order will be well cemented

I swear
This war has exposed the hypocrisy of USA led allies.
20 years ago, Saudi Arabia wouldn’t try not to sanction Russia but this war open the Arab leaders eye.

Yesterday, Saudi displayed Syria government flag for the first time in 11 years.
Even Russia must anti government in Gulf region which is Qatar, have calm down.

seunny4lif:

I swear
This war has exposed the hypocrisy of USA led allies.
20 years ago, Saudi Arabia wouldn’t try not to sanction Russia but this war open the Arab leaders eye.

Yesterday, Saudi displayed Syria government flag for the first time in 11 years.
Even Russia must anti government in Gulf region which is Qatar, have calm down.

You saw how they tried to destabilise the world because Qatar was hosting the world cup. The world cup is now shaping up to be one of the best world cup and everyone is enjoying it.

seunny4lif:
One of the main reason Africa leaderslooters need to wake up.
Why don’t AU launch Africa owned means of supply, production and payment without using Dollars or Euros.
We need our own money system that works like SWIFT CODE.
This war should open our leaders eyes, all those money they looted to Paris and London, will disappear just like EU did Russians

Fool, you don't have leaders

Adjovi:




You saw how they tried to destabilise the world because Qatar was hosting the world cup. The world cup is now shaping up to be one of the best world cup and everyone is enjoying it.

That’s so funny because this 2022 World Cup in Qatar joined 2018, 2002 and 1998 as one of the best World Cup have seen.
2010 may have the best theme songs but the matches are boring.

seunny4lif:

That’s so funny because this 2022 World Cup in Qatar joined 2018, 2002 and 1998 as one of the best World Cup have seen.
2010 may have the best theme songs but the matches are boring.

They have all gone quiet now because everyone is now focused on football as everyone is enjoying it and those in Qatar are having a great time as well.