Regarding the transit of manganese ore used in the military industry through Latvia to Russia, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa prioritizes our country’s efforts to stop the transit of manganese ore at the level of the European Union. Last week, during the European Council in Brussels, Siliņa addressed the representatives of Finland, Estonia and Lithuania, who conceptually supported the Prime Minister’s plan.
The mills of European bureaucracy grind slowly, 25 months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Union is preparing to adopt the 14th sanctions package in April. It could include a ban on the transit of manganese ore to Russia through European Union transport hubs. Silina: “Nothing in Europe can be solved during one European Council, these issues must be prepared accordingly. Latvia has included the issue of manganese ore in the 14th sanctions package. Mr. Karinas [ārlietu ministrs – ReTV] already addressed the issue of manganese ore and aluminum oxide in the Council of Foreign Ministers, I also addressed this issue in the European Council, but the sanctions packages are not at the level of the European Council, but are prepared by the relevant services.”
The Prime Minister of Latvia emphasizes that she has addressed the representatives of various countries and received some support, but there are 26 member states in the European Union, which must receive unanimous support for the sanctions to become legally effective. “A decision that achieves the result would be that we no longer mine manganese ore in the entire territory of the European Union. The question here is whether we want to act emotionally or whether we want to achieve a result. We have agreed that we want to achieve a result so that no country brings raw materials to Russia, on which their military industry partly depends. That is why Latvia, together with other European countries, has called to act responsibly.”
Evika Siliņa explains what will be done if the common sanctions of the European Union for the transit of manganese ore are not accepted. “If we fail to include this substance in the sanctions, then we will come up with a regional statement. I hope it could even be done sooner. This means that in this region, which is geographically close to the Baltic States, the shipment of manganese to Russia could be prohibited. If we fail to achieve all these, which would be reasonable and result-oriented decisions, then we will look for another way to achieve the result.”
For the first time, the issue of transit of manganese ore through the ports of Latvia and by rail came to the public’s attention two years ago, but it remained silent without results. Now it is on the agenda with a new force, the first protest actions of residents have also taken place, demanding to stop the transport of ore to Russia.
