While the vote itself will be non-binding, it is likely to further increase the pressure on Ireland to address the Aughinish Alumina situation

EU to hold vote on Aughinish Alumina sanctions

by · RTE.ie

The European Parliament will hold a non-binding vote over whether MEPs want the EU to include Aughinish Alumina as part of sanctions against Russia, hours after Taoiseach Micheál Martin addresses the parliament.

The European People's Party group in the European Parliament, of which Fine Gael is a member, and the Socialists and Democrats group, of which Labour is a member, tabled the vote requests this weekend.

The votes will take place as part of amendments to the planned European Parliament resolution to adopt the 2025 European Commission Report on Ukraine, when it is debated in Strasbourg on Tuesday.

The EPP amendment calls for a number of measures, including "for a full ban on Russian steel products and on the export of alumina to Russia".

The Socialists and Democrats group amendment similarly calls for a series of steps to take place, including "a full ban on Russian steel products and on the export of alumina to Russia".

The amendments will be heard during a parliament debate on Tuesday afternoon before a vote later in the week.

However, while the vote itself will be non-binding, it is likely to further increase the pressure on Ireland to address the Aughinish Alumina situation.

This is because the debate will take place hours after Mr Martin addresses the parliament to outline Ireland's priorities for the six-month EU presidency, which will continue until December.

Speaking at a presidency event in University College Cork yesterday, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the issue is for Ireland to resolve and that she is looking forward to seeing the still-awaited report into whether products from the Aughinish site in Co Limerick are being used in Russian weaponry.

At the launch of Ireland's EU presidency at Dublin Castle on Wednesday, the Taoiseach said the report is imminent, likely to be published in a number of weeks, and that he does not believe the situation risks overshadowing Ireland's presidential term.

Significant attention is likely to be placed on how Ireland's 14 MEPs vote in relation to the amendments, with European Parliament voting bloc groups deciding on a recommendation for their group on Monday evening.