EU to Restrict Goods for Russian Military; Ireland's Alumina Exports Under Scrutiny

The European Commission will restrict access to goods Russia could use for military equipment, according to David O’Sullivan, the EU’s chief sanctions envoy. This comes amid growing pressure in the EU Parliament to restrict alumina exports from Ireland to Russia.

An Irish Times investigation, in cooperation with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, found that Aughinish Alumina in Co Limerick ships vast amounts of alumina to Russian smelters. This alumina is used to make aluminium, which is then sold to ASK, a trading company supplying dozens of Russian arms manufacturers of missiles, tanks, and other weapons used in Ukraine.

O’Sullivan called the findings «worrying» and stated the commission would continue to undermine Russia’s war efforts by restricting access to commodities used for military production. While bilateral trade between the EU and Russia has decreased by 75% due to sanctions, alumina is not currently sanctioned, and exports from Aughinish to Russia doubled post-invasion.

European Parliament vice-president Pina Picierno and 39 MEPs have urged the commission to include alumina in the next sanctions package. However, Taoiseach Micheál Martin indicated the Irish Government will continue to support Aughinish Alumina, citing no existing EU restrictions and potential devastation for the plant and its hundreds of employees if sanctions were imposed. He noted the government is reviewing the matter but reported no new developments in an ongoing investigation.