Environmental Damage Caused by Frozen Vessels under EU Sanctions

Current EU Legislation and its Compliance with EU Environmental Policy Principles

Abstract

Since the Russian-Ukrainian war began in February 2022, EU Member States have seized and immobilized numerous yachts linked to sanctioned Russian individuals. A key concern arising from these seizures is the environmental risk posed by abandoned or poorly maintained vessels, as neither their sanctioned owners nor the seizing states may assume responsibility for their upkeep. This paper focuses on whether and to what extent existing EU environmental law offers legal grounds for dealing with environmental harm caused by frozen vessels. It further examines whether the current legal framework aligns with core EU environmental policy principles such as the polluter-pays, preventive, and precautionary principles. Methodologically, it is grounded in a descriptive legal analysis of current EU environmental law and is complemented by a qualitative examination of three core EU environmental policy principles. The findings reveal significant legal ambiguities and enforcement challenges that hinder effective environmental protection in this context. Ultimately, the study contributes to the broader discourse on legal liability regarding environmental damage in the light of EU sanctions offering insights for both scholars and policymakers seeking to navigate the complex legal-political landscape of environmental protection.