EU audit finds uneven enforcement of Russia trade sanctions

EU trade with Russia fell from €253 billion in 2021 to €58 billion last year, but sanctioned goods continue to cross the bloc’s borders, according to a report by the European Court of Auditors. The Luxembourg-based watchdog points to uneven monitoring, enforcement gaps and legal ambiguities.

European News·November 10, 2026·reads: 1,366

EU audit finds uneven enforcement of Russia trade sanctions

The court examined sanctions compliance in Bulgaria, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands and Poland, and found stark differences between the five countries. Bulgaria reported no violations, while Latvia recorded 2,100. Both countries share borders with non-EU states.

The goods slipping through include dual-use and advanced-technology components later found in Russian weapons, as well as industrial products considered important to Russia’s economic and industrial base. Of 202 parts identified in Russian missiles and drones, eight came directly from the EU, the report said.

Some products also reach EU markets after their origin is obscured. Birch plywood from Russia and Belarus, for example, can be relabelled in a third country before entering the bloc, according to the report.