18th October 2025 – 24th October 2025
LOCAL NEWS
No news reported.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. Greece and Cyprus Advocate Fairness and Realism Ahead of COP Climate Discussions
In the aftermath of the recent IMO meeting, which resulted in the postponement of the proposed Net-Zero Framework (NZF), Greece and Cyprus have reiterated their support for international decarbonisation efforts while underlining the need for a measured and pragmatic approach. As discussions move towards the upcoming COP summit, both countries stress that the transition of shipping towards zero emissions must be guided by fairness, realism and technological feasibility.
According to recent publications, the European Commission has expressed concern that the abstentions by Greece and Cyprus at the IMO meeting diverged from the EU’s common position, with discussions reportedly taking place on the implications of this move. Both countries, however, maintain that their actions were in line with procedural rules and reflected the need for further deliberation on the economic and technical aspects of the NZF before its adoption.
In a recent article published in the Financial Times, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasised the importance of maintaining realism and proportionality in Europe’s climate strategy, stating:
“While European countries still burn coal in our power plants and oil to heat our homes and factories, we are pushing for the decarbonisation of ships and planes and of the most difficult industrial processes.
This emphasis on tackling all emissions at once is shortsighted… We ought to tread carefully, maintain flexibility and make sure that the maths adds up.”
Greece has reportedly proposed that references to the IMO agreement be revisited within the EU’s draft negotiating position for COP 30, suggesting that the relevant language should reflect ongoing discussions rather than a definitive endorsement of the NZF. Cyprus has expressed similar views, noting that continued dialogue is needed to ensure a fair and effective global framework for shipping.
Both countries underline that their objective is to contribute constructively to the international debate, advocating for a global and technologically achievable pathway towards decarbonisation that safeguards competitiveness and supports the long-term sustainability of the maritime sector.
Related Articles:
Euractiv - EU open to revise net-zero shipping deal after US sunk IMO talks
POLITICO 21/10 - Trump’s anti-climate crusade crashes EU’s COP30 preparations
IMO 17/10 - IMO net-zero shipping talks to resume in 2026
Safety4Sea 23/10 - GMF Annual Summit ends on a hopeful note despite delay to shipping regulations
2. MEPs to vote on simplified sustainability and due diligence rules in November
On Wednesday, 22 October 2025, the European Parliament rejected a bill to simplify rules for European businesses on sustainability reporting and due diligence obligations. The Bill was a compromise agreement on forming its negotiating position on the EU Commission’s Omnibus I, which would have seen more significant reductions in the EU’s sustainability reporting and due diligence regulations than those proposed by the Commission
The vote came amid mounting pressure from some EU member states to pass the bill and from the US and Qatar to scale back the EU's due diligence law contained in it, which in their view risks disrupting liquified natural gas trade with Europe.
The EU had already been considering broader exemptions under its due diligence law, which requires companies operating in the bloc to address human rights and environmental impacts in their supply chains or face fines of up to 5% of global turnover. However, several multinational corporations have urged Brussels to withdraw the legislation entirely, arguing it would drive investment and businesses out of Europe.
Qatar and the United States had previously warned that the proposed rules threaten the affordability and reliability of Europe’s energy supplies and could harm the competitiveness of the EU’s industrial base. Divisions have also emerged among EU Member States, some share these concerns, while others, including Spain, insist on preserving the legislation to uphold the EU’s sustainability and human rights commitments. Both the U.S. and Qatar have indicated that, unless the EU repeals or significantly amends the law; particularly by removing its application to non-EU companies and revising penalties for non-compliance, Qatar may reconsider its LNG exports to Europe.
After this rejection, the Parliament will need to adopt a new position on the file, with amendments to be voted on at the upcoming plenary session in Brussels on 13 November. Negotiations will resume from scratch, meaning that key elements like the threshold of companies affected by the law and its turnout could be reopened.
Related Articles:
Euronews 22/10 - European Parliament rebels against simplified sustainability requirements
Reuters 22/10 - EU plans changes to sustainability law as US, Qatar increase pressure
EU Parliament Rejects Agreement to Cut Sustainability Reporting and Due Diligence Laws - ESG Today
EU sustainability omnibus proposals rejected in secret vote - Green Central Banking
3. EU adopts 19th package of sanctions against Russia
On Wednesday, 23rd October 2025, the European Council adopted a sweeping 19th package of further 69 individual listings and numerous economic restrictive measures targeting key sectors which fuel Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including energy, finance and the military industrial complex.
The package introduces a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the EU, starting January 2027 for long-term contracts, and within six months for short-term contracts. “Europe has made a historic decision. We will stop all imports of Russian LNG by the end of 2026 and crack down on the oil shadow fleet. This is an unprecedented move that the EU makes in unity and full solidarity with Ukraine. It will deal a major blow to Putin's war machine and sustain peace efforts for Kyiv. Europe must regain its energy independence.” said Dan Jørgensen, EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing.
Furthermore, the package introduces a full transaction ban on two major Russian state-owned oil producers (Rosneft and Gazprom Neft). The new measures eliminate the exemption for Rosneft's and Gazprom Neft's oil and gas imports into the EU. The import of oil from third countries, such as Kazakhstan, and the transport of oil compliant with the Oil Price Cap to third countries, are exempted.
The EU is also listing a Tatarstani conglomerate active in the Russian oil sector. In parallel, the EU is taking measures against important third country operators enabling Russia’s revenue streams. This involves sanctioning Chinese entities - two refineries and an oil trader - that are significant buyers of Russian crude oil.
Furthermore, the EU is imposing additional sanctions across the shadow fleet value chain. Specifically, the 19th package includes the listing of Litasco Middle East DMCC, Lukoil’s prominent shadow fleet enabler based in the United Arab Emirates. Other listings include maritime registries providing false flags to shadow fleet vessels, allowing their continued operation by creating a fraudulent impression of compliance with certification requirements. Today’s measures also target the largest port container operator in the Russian Far East, and a leading shipbuilder for Sovcomflot.
Additionally, the extension of the port infrastructure ban will enable the EU to list ports in third countries that are instrumental to the Russian war effort.
An additional 117 vessels have been made subject to a port access ban and a ban on the provision of a broad range of services related to maritime transport, bringing the total number of designated vessels to 557. These measures target non-EU tankers that are part of the shadow fleet circumventing the oil price cap mechanism, which otherwise support Russia’s energy sector, or transport military equipment for Russia or stolen Ukrainian grain.
The 19th package also introduces a ban on reinsuring vessels belonging to the shadow fleet, further constraining their ability to operate.
Finally, there are new direct export restrictions for items and technologies used on the battlefield. The package lists 45 companies in Russia and third countries. These are companies said to have been providing direct or indirect support to the Russian military industrial complex.
These entities are now subject to tighter export restrictions with regard to dual-use goods, as well as items which might generally contribute to the technological enhancement of Russia’s defence sector. Seventeen of these entities are located in third countries (twelve in China, including Hong Kong, three in India and two in Thailand).
The package also expands the existing export ban to include electronic components, rangefinders, additional chemicals used in preparing propellants and additional metals, oxides and alloys used in the manufacturing of military systems.
Salts and ores, articles made of rubber, tubes, tyres, millstones and construction materials will also be subject to more stringent export restrictions. There is now also a prohibition on purchasing, importing or transferring all acyclic hydrocarbons.
The EU has also sanctioned Russia’s largest gold producer.
The list of the sanctioned persons can be found in the Annex of the Council Decision 2025/2032 of 23 October 2025.
Related Articles:
Decision - CFSP - 2025/2032 - EN - EUR-Lex
European Commission 23/10 - EU adopts 19th package of sanctions against Russia
Reuters 23/10 - What's in the EU's 19th package of Russia sanctions
PhileNews 23/10 - EU bans Russian LNG imports from 2027 in new sanctions package
Euronews 22/10 - EU and US impose new sanctions on Russia to force ceasefire in Ukraine
4. EU ETS: publication of the compliance data of the shipping
The European Commission’s Union Registry has been recently updated with the surrender and compliance data of the shipping sector under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for its first year of implementation.
According to the applicable Regulation, shipping companies were required to surrender allowances covering 40% of their verified emissions for 2024. As shown in the Union Registry website under the Key Indicators the blue column (90 million) represents the total verified emissions for 2024, while the orange column (36 million) shows the number of allowances surrendered this year – corresponding exactly to 40% of verified emissions.
This demonstrates a 100% compliance rate by the shipping sector for the first year of inclusion in the EU ETS, marking a successful start to the system’s phased implementation.
Please tab the link below for more details.
Related Article:
European Commission - Union Registry Public Website
5. US TREASURY REPORT
The US Treasury Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 1: US Treasury Report for week 18/10/2025 – 24/10/2025
6. PIRACY REPORT
The Piracy Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 2: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report, for the period between 24/09/2025 – 22/10/2025
Nothing important to report from Local News, the ILO, ECSA and the House of Representatives.