The Nordic-Baltic Eight series of jointly published topical briefs is a collaboration between the eight leading institutes in the Nordic–Baltic region. The initiative aims to enhance understanding of the region’s shifting security, political, and societal landscape in an era of renewed great-power rivalry. The series seeks to generate shared insights, foster informed policy dialogue, and contribute to the region’s strategic resilience.

The views expressed in the policy briefs are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the participating institutes. New briefs will be published on this webpage on a continuous basis as they are released.

The eight institutes involved are:
The Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI),
Danish Institute of International Studies (DIIS),
The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA),
The Icelandic Institute of International Affairs (IIA),
The International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS),
The Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University (TSPMI),
The Latvian Institute of International Affairs (LIIA),
and
The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI)

Brief No. 1 – 16 March 2026
How to Implement a Full Maritime Services Ban on Russian Oil

The EU is considering a full maritime services ban on Russian oil. The ban would cover transportation, insurance, and financing. This brief outlines how such a full services ban could be designed and implemented effectively, and how to address potential negative side effects and Russian countermeasures.

Authors:
Henrik Wachtmeister, Research Fellow, The Swedish Institute of International Affairs
Daniel Spiro, Associate Professor, Uppsala University
Henrik Praks, Research Fellow, International Centre for Defence and Security