Kiri

Rue Guimard 11/13 1040 Brüssel Tel: +32 2 227 39 10 [email protected] https://eu.mfa.ee/et/

Erkki Keldo Majandus- ja tööstusminister Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium

03.12.2024 nr 10.1-13/1259-1

Austatud minister Edastame Teile Euroopa Komisjoni asepresidendi Valdis Dombrovskise ja Euroopa Komisjoni asepresidendi Maroš Šefcoviči kirja, 29. November 2024, nr Ares(2024)8534693. Lugupidamisega Kyllike Sillaste-Elling alaline esindaja Lisa: kiri 2 lk Raili Lillemets +32 2227 4375 [email protected]

European Commission

Valdis DOMBROVSKIS Executive Vice- President

of the European Commission An Economy that Works for People

Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ Executive Vice- President

of the European Commission European Green Deal Interinstitutional Relations

and Foresight

Mr Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Denmark

Mr Erkki Keldo, Minister of Economy and Industry, Estonia

Mr Ville Tavio, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Finland

Mr Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ireland

Ms Baiba Braže, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Latvia

Mr Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister for Int. Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Lithuania

Mr Krzysztof Paszyk, Minister of Economic Development and Technology, Poland

Mr Benjamin Dousa, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Sweden

Brussels, 2 9 NOV. 2024

Dear Ministers,

Thank you for your letter calling on the Commission to present a comprehensive proposal to further increase tariffs for the broadest possible range of imports into the European Union of Russian and Belarusian products.

To date, through EU restrictive measures (sanctions) the EU has achieved a significant trade decoupling from Russia, with 61% of pre-war EU imports from Russia (in 2021 terms) being restricted. In addition, the Grain Tariff Regulation that entered into force on 1 July covered a further 1% of pre-war imports from Russia, or 85% of previous EU agricultural imports from Russia.

The goods for which EU imports from Russia have not yet been restricted - either under sanctions or increased import tariffs - are the remaining 15% of agriculture imports, some energy products - by decreasing order of importance of remaining imports flows: natural gas, crude

pipeline oil, seaborne crude oil into Bulgaria, and nuclear energy, - critical raw materials, and some types of fertilisers.

Based on the European Council conclusions of 17 October, where the Leaders have confirmed their readiness to further limit Russia’s ability to wage war and which referred to additional import tariffs on Russian and Belarusian agricultural products, and as mentioned during the FAC Trade meeting on 21 November, we are working on a proposal for further restrictions to be put forward in parallel to the ongoing work towards the 15th and 16th sanctions packages.

Russia’s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been on-going for over 1 000 days. It is therefore essential that we consider all possibilities and potential options when it comes to our objective of limiting Russia’s ability to wage war against Ukraine. The Commission is committed to continue increasing pressure on Russia.

Yours sincerely,

Valdis Dombrovskis

Electronically signed on 29/11/2024 19:02 (UTC+01) in accordance with Article 11 of Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2121