MEPs vote in favour of ban on alumina exports to Russia

The European Parliament has voted in favour of a proposal to ban alumina exports to Russia.

The measure was contained in two amendments to a vote on a European Commission report on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.

Fine Gael MEPs voted in favour of the proposal, which is non-binding.

Fianna Fáil MEPs abstained.

Fianna Fáil MEP for Dublin Barry Andrews said: “While I agree that we need to end trade of alumina with Russia, unfortunately, the blunt wording of these amendments did not consider the risks to the European supply chain of this critical resource, or to the risks to the downstream supply of aluminium to Europe.

“The amendments also did not recognise that the Irish Government now sees the need for action and is currently investigating Aughinish Alumina,” he said.

Last week, Taoiseach Mícheál Martin said Ireland would “develop an approach” with the European Commission on how to respond to the shipments of alumina from the Aughinish Alumina refinery in Co Limerick to Russia.