--- title: "Kallas proposes handing over cases of sanctions evasion against Russia to the European Public Prosecutor's Office" description: "Kaja Kallas has proposed transferring cases of sanctions evasion against Russia and Belarus to the European Public Prosecutor's Office in Luxembourg. The initiative aims to eliminate discrepancies in law enforcement among the 27 EU countries and to strengthen pressure on Russia's war machine." date: 2026-09-11T05:56:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kallas-epo-sanctions-eu-russia tags: [eu-sanctions, eppo, kaja-kallas, russia, european-union, sanctions-evasion] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Kallas proposes handing over cases of sanctions evasion against Russia to the European Public Prosecutor's Office ![Kaja Kallas at a press conference in Brussels discussing the transfer of cases on sanctions evasion against Russia to the European Public Prosecutor's Office](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/11/kallas-epo-sanctions-eu-russia/kallas-epo-sanctions-eu-russia-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Kallas proposed transferring oversight of cases involving sanctions evasion against Russia and Belarus to the European Public Prosecutor's Office in Luxembourg - The EPPO would investigate the supply of sensitive goods for Russia's war machine and money-laundering operations for the Kremlin - The goal is to eliminate the fragmentation of law enforcement among the 27 national jurisdictions of the EU - Specific legislative details had not been announced as of September 11, 2026; the initiative is at the conceptual stage - Context: the 21st sanctions package (July 23, 2026) covered 218 individuals and entities; Kallas estimated the cumulative impact of sanctions at 1.3 trillion euros Kaja Kallas, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has put forward a proposal to transfer oversight of cases involving the circumvention of sanctions against Russia and Belarus to the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). This was reported on Thursday, September 11, by two diplomats familiar with the discussions held at a meeting with the permanent representatives of EU member states, which took place on Wednesday in Brussels. Specific legislative initiatives have not yet been detailed, but the idea itself has already been framed as a tool for intensifying pressure on Russia's war machine. ### The essence of the proposal: a single prosecutor against "grey" supplies According to diplomatic sources, the body headquartered in Luxembourg would be tasked with investigating the supply of sensitive goods that could potentially be used within Moscow's military infrastructure, as well as money-laundering operations carried out for the benefit of the Kremlin. The EPPO's remit would also cover market participants who, within the EU, violate the rules on cooperation with sanctioned Russian and Belarusian entities or engage in prohibited transactions. In this way, the prosecution would gain a tool for pursuing not only the ultimate beneficiaries but also the intermediaries providing logistics and financial support for "grey" schemes. ### The fragmentation problem: 27 approaches versus a single regime The key argument in favor of centralization is the chronic fragmentation of law enforcement. Currently, the application of international sanctions is hampered by the diversity of national legal frameworks and the differing approaches of prosecutorial authorities in the 27 capitals. The same transit contract or crypto-asset transaction may be classified differently in Berlin, Paris, and Warsaw, creating "sanctions loopholes" and weakening the deterrent effect. Transferring powers to the EPPO is intended to eliminate this asymmetry, ensuring a uniform standard of evidentiary requirements and procedural safeguards. ### Expanding the mandate: from organized crime to sanctions Today, the European Public Prosecutor's Office investigates serious organized crimes that directly affect the EU's financial interests: money laundering, corruption, and cross-border fraud. The application of international sanctions would be a significant, yet qualitatively new, addition to its powers. Experts note that sanctions cases require specific expertise in export control, banking compliance, and tracking shadow logistics chains β€” competencies that the EPPO is developing within its current practice but which will require additional regulatory codification. ### Context: the 21st package and a cumulative effect of 1.3 trillion euros Kallas's proposal came against the backdrop of the EU Council's recent adoption of the 21st sanctions package against Russia, approved on July 23, 2026. In terms of scale, it was the largest in four years: 218 individuals and entities were placed under restrictions, with the measures targeting Russia's banking sector, crypto platforms, "shadow fleet," and oil industry. In a separate statement provided to DW, Kallas estimated the cumulative economic impact of Western sanctions on Russia at 1.3 trillion euros, emphasizing that further tightening of enforcement is at least as important as expanding the list of sanctioned targets. ### What comes next: from idea to text At the time of publication, no specific legislative proposals, timelines for introducing directives, or amendments to the EPPO regulation had been announced. Diplomats confirmed that the discussion is at the conceptual stage, and formalizing the initiative will require coordination with the European Parliament, the EU Council, and the prosecution office in Luxembourg itself. Nevertheless, the very fact that the topic has been raised at the level of the committee of ambassadors indicates that Brussels views the centralization of sanctions enforcement as a priority direction for the coming months. ## πŸ” Fact-Check Verification - [EU diplomacy chief proposes punishing sanctions evasion against Russia, - Politico](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/golova-diplomatiyi-es-proponue-karati-obhid-1789105906.html) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ Ρ„Π°ΠΊΡ‚ прСдлоТСния Каллас ΠΈ ссылаСтся Π½Π° Politico ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ пСрвоисточник. Π‘ΠΎΠ²ΠΏΠ°Π΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ ΠΏΠΎ сути с основным тСкстом. - [Media: Kallas wants the European Public Prosecutor's Office to investigate cases of sanctions evasion against Russia](https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/rus/news/2026/09/11/7245244/) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ ΠΏΠ΅Ρ€Π΅Π΄Π°Ρ‡Ρƒ Π΄Π΅Π» ΠΎΠ± ΠΎΠ±Ρ…ΠΎΠ΄Π΅ санкций Π² Π²Π΅Π΄Π΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ Π•ΠŸ. ΠŸΡƒΠ±Π»ΠΈΠΊΠ°Ρ†ΠΈΡ ΠΎΡ‚ 11.09.2026, совпадаСт ΠΏΠΎ Π΄Π°Ρ‚Π΅. - [Kallas proposes handing sanctions evasion cases to the European Public Prosecutor's Office](https://vesti.az/v-mire/kallas-predlozila-peredat-dela-po-obxodu-sankcii-evropeiskoi-prokurature-614613) - НСзависимоС ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ Ρ„Π°ΠΊΡ‚Π° прСдлоТСния ΠΈ Π΅Π³ΠΎ контСкста. НСт расхоТдСний с Π΄Ρ€ΡƒΠ³ΠΈΠΌΠΈ источниками. - [Kallas: Western sanctions have cost Russia 1.3 trillion euros](https://www.dw.com/ru/kallas-zapadnye-sankcii-oboslis-rf-v-13-trilliona-evro/a-77566906) - Использован ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ контСкстный источник для кумулятивной ΠΎΡ†Π΅Π½ΠΊΠΈ эффСкта санкций. НС ΠΏΡ€ΠΎΡ‚ΠΈΠ²ΠΎΡ€Π΅Ρ‡ΠΈΡ‚ основному ΡΡŽΠΆΠ΅Ρ‚Ρƒ, дополняСт Π΅Π³ΠΎ Ρ†ΠΈΡ„Ρ€ΠΎΠΉ. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What exactly did Kaja Kallas propose on September 11, 2026? **A:** Kallas proposed transferring oversight of cases involving sanctions evasion against Russia and Belarus to the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Luxembourg. The body would investigate the supply of sensitive goods for Russia's war machine and money-laundering operations. Specific legislative details had not been announced at the time of the proposal. ### Q: Why does Brussels want to centralize sanctions enforcement? **A:** The reason is fragmentation: the 27 EU countries operate under different national laws and prosecutorial approaches, which creates "sanctions loopholes" and reduces the effectiveness of the regime. A single EPPO jurisdiction is meant to ensure a uniform standard of investigations. ### Q: What is the scope of the 21st sanctions package adopted on July 23, 2026? **A:** The 21st package was the largest in four years: 218 individuals and entities were placed under restrictions. The measures targeted Russia's banking sector, crypto platforms, "shadow fleet," and oil industry. ### Q: Did Kallas estimate the cumulative impact of sanctions on Russia? **A:** Yes, in a separate statement provided to DW, Kallas estimated the cumulative economic impact of Western sanctions on Russia at 1.3 trillion euros. ### Q: When is a specific legislative text on Kallas's initiative expected? **A:** As of September 11, 2026, no specific timelines or directive texts had been announced. The initiative is at the conceptual stage and will require coordination with the European Parliament, the EU Council, and the prosecution office in Luxembourg itself.