Date: 2026-02-06Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
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)
**Executive Summary**
This is a Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/307, dated 29 January 2026, regarding the registration of the European citizens' initiative entitled 'Stop Funding Russia's War: Phase Out Harmful and Useless Russian Imports into the EU', following submission on 9 December 2025. The decision confirms that the initiative meets the conditions for registration under Regulation (EU) 2019/788.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Initiative Registration:**
* The European citizens' initiative 'Stop Funding Russia's War: Phase Out Harmful and Useless Russian Imports into the EU' is registered.
* The initiative aims to prompt the Commission to propose measures to end the EU’s import dependencies on Russia and Belarus through sectoral bans or phase-outs, targeting sectors with viable alternatives within the EU and among trusted partners.
* **Commission's Powers:**
* The Commission considers it could adopt a proposal based on Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, imposing import bans or increased customs duties on specific products from Russia and Belarus.
* The Commission acknowledges that its conclusion to register the initiative does not guarantee that the concrete substantive conditions required for the Commission to act will be met, particularly regarding proportionality, subsidiarity, and compatibility with fundamental rights.
* **Organiser Compliance:**
* The group of organisers has provided adequate evidence demonstrating their compliance with Article 5(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/788.
* Contact persons, Salvatore RICCI and Amalio TROMBETTA, have been designated in accordance with Article 5(3) of the same regulation.
* **Initiative Validation:**
* The initiative is deemed not manifestly abusive, frivolous, or vexatious, and not manifestly contrary to the values of the Union.
* **Disclaimer:**
* The Commission's decision to register the initiative does not imply confirmation of the factual correctness of the initiative's content, which remains the sole responsibility of the group of organisers.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Group of Organisers of the Initiative
**Impact**
The initiative they proposed is now officially registered by the European Commission.
**Action Required**
No specific action is listed in the document.
**Stakeholder:** European Commission
**Impact**
The Commission acknowledges that it could potentially act on the initiative by proposing legal acts under Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. However, they are not obligated to take action and emphasize that further assessment is needed to ensure compliance with principles such as proportionality and subsidiarity.
**Action Required**
The Commission must now consider the initiative further, bearing in mind the need to assess the concrete substantive conditions for action.
Key Entities Referenced
Regulation (EU) 2019/788: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European citizens' initiative, which provides the legal framework for the initiative.
European citizens' initiative: A mechanism allowing EU citizens to propose legislation to the European Commission.
'Stop Funding Russia's War: Phase Out Harmful and Useless Russian Imports into the EU': The specific European citizens' initiative requesting the EU Commission to propose measures to end EU import dependencies on Russia and Belarus.
European Commission: The EU institution responsible for deciding whether to register the citizens' initiative, and potentially propose legislation based on it.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the primary treaties of the European Union, referenced as providing the legal basis for potential actions.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union 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,
(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 1/2EN
OJ L, 6.2.2026
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
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/307/oj