Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/307 of 29 January 2026 on the request for registration, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of the European citizens’ initiative entitled Stop Funding Russia’s War: Phase Out Harmful and Useless Russian Imports into the EU (notified under document C(2026) 460)
Date: 2026-01-29
Institutions: European Commission, Secretariat-General
Subjects: Belarus, EU restrictive measure, European citizens' initiative, Russia, import (EU), import restriction, petition








L_202600307EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2026/307


6.2.2026







            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2026/307
of 29 January 2026
         
on the request for registration, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Stop Funding Russia’s War: Phase Out Harmful and Useless Russian Imports into the EU’
         


(notified under document C(2026) 460)


(Only the English text is authentic)


THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,


Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the European citizens’ initiative (1), and in particular Article 6(3) thereof,

Whereas:







(1)


A request for registration of a European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Stop Funding Russia’s War: Phase Out Harmful and Useless Russian Imports into the EU’ was submitted to the Commission on 9 December 2025.












(2)


The aim of the initiative as expressed by the organisers is to call on the Commission ‘to propose firm, immediate measures to end the EU’s remaining import dependencies on Russia and Belarus by introducing sectoral bans or decisive phase-outs’. The organisers indicate that they ‘target sectors where viable alternatives already exist within the EU and among trusted partners, such as iron and steel, inorganic chemicals and potassium fertilisers’ and add that the ‘objective is to stop the flow of EU funds to the Russian state, eliminate structural vulnerabilities in critical supply chains and reinforce a coherent, values-based trade policy’. An annex to the initiative provides further details on its background, subject matter and objectives. The organisers have also submitted an additional document and a draft legal act as part of their registration request.












(3)


The Commission considers that it could adopt a proposal based on Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union imposing an import ban or increasing customs duties on certain iron and steel products, inorganic chemicals and fertilisers originating in or exported directly or indirectly from the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus.












(4)


For that reason, the Commission considers that none of the parts of the initiative manifestly falls outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties.












(5)


That conclusion does not affect the assessment of whether the concrete substantive conditions required for the Commission to act, including compliance with the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity and compatibility with fundamental rights, would be met in this case.












(6)


The group of organisers has provided appropriate evidence that it fulfils the requirements laid down in Article 5(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 and has designated the contact persons in accordance with Article 5(3), first subparagraph, of that Regulation.












(7)


The initiative is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious, nor is it manifestly contrary to the values of the Union as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union or to the rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.












(8)


The initiative entitled ‘Stop Funding Russia’s War: Phase Out Harmful and Useless Russian Imports into the EU’ should therefore be registered.












(9)


The conclusion that the conditions for registration under Article 6(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788 are fulfilled does not imply that the Commission in any way confirms the factual correctness of the content of the initiative, which is the sole responsibility of the group of organisers of the initiative. The content of the initiative only expresses the views of the group of organisers, and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Commission,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
The European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Stop Funding Russia’s War: Phase Out Harmful and Useless Russian Imports into the EU’ shall be registered.


Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the group of organisers of the citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Stop Funding Russia’s War: Phase Out Harmful and Useless Russian Imports into the EU’, represented by Salvatore RICCI and Amalio TROMBETTA acting as contact persons.




Done at Brussels, 29 January 2026.


For the Commission

Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ
            

Member of the Commission






(1)  
            OJ L 130, 17.5.2019, p. 55, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/788/oj.


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/307/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)