DISINFO: Scandinavian countries no longer support the EU’s sanctions on Russia
SUMMARY
European leaders have long realised that the sanctions imposed on Russia hurt Europe more than Russia, and after the worst winter they endured last year, they are now facing a more bitter reality. Therefore, the ranks of the signatories to the sanctions are gradually decreasing, including the Scandinavian countries, for which Russia was a very good market. These countries were ahead of the largest European states from an economic point of view, and now they have serious problems both in terms of the sale of excess production and the prices of imported products.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation claim aiming to question the effectiveness of western sanctions on Russia.
Following the launch of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Council has adopted 11 packages of sanctions against Russia and Belarus as of October 2023. These restrictions are aimed at weakening Russia’s ability to finance the war and specifically target the political, military and economic elite responsible for the invasion. By imposing sanctions on Russia, the EU aims to send a strong signal of resolve and unity to the Kremlin, degrade Russia’s ability to wage war, and slowly asphyxiate the Russian economy, in particular the country’s energy sector. When judged on the basis of these criteria, sanctions are clearly working.
Sanctions are adopted only with the consent of all member states, and their implementation is the responsibility of the member states of the organization. The Scandinavian member countries of the European Union, Denmark and Sweden, as well as Finland, which is considered together with the Scandinavian countries due to its close ties, have supported all the packages developed so far. As for Norway, which is not a member of the EU, the obligation to implement the sanctions adopted by the organization does not apply to it. However, Norway, in most cases, joins the sanctions adopted by the EU. The latest package of sanctions, which the country approved at the end of September, was no exception, restricting the entry into the country of cars with nine seats or less registered in Russia. Read the full debunk at Myth Detector.
Finally, the article in question exaggerates the extent of problems faced by the EU’s economy. According to the European Commission's Summer 2023 Economic Forecast, GDP is projected to expand by 0.8% in 2023 and 1.4% in 2024. Inflation is forecast to reduce further to 3.2 % in 2024 in the EU. Pro-Kremlin outlets frequently forecast the imminent collapse of western economies.
Sanctions are a key tool of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and the response to Russia's multiple violations of International law. Read also an earlier detailed analysis of the Russian disinformation narratives about EU sanctions.
Read also related disinformation cases alleging that Sanctions against Russia hurt Europe and help Russia, that EU’s disintegration is close due to its anti-Russia sanctions, that Western sanctions and the puppet regime in Ukraine are a failure, that EU sanctions harm Africa instead of Russia, that Western sanctions are not working, or that Europe suffered more from sanctions than Russia.