03.07.2024
EU Imposes New Restrictive Measures on Belarus
The European Council has implemented a new set of restrictive measures against Belarus. These comprehensive sanctions, effective immediately, are designed to curb Belarus’s economic capabilities and deter further assistance to Russia. They mirror the sanctions already imposed on Russia, addressing the high degree of economic integration between the two nations and aiming to prevent circumvention of existing measures.
Key Measures:
- Trade Restrictions: The Council has expanded the export ban on dual-use goods and advanced technologies to Belarus. Additional restrictions target goods that could enhance Belarusian industrial capacities, maritime navigation goods, and luxury items. Import bans now include gold, diamonds, helium, coal, mineral products, crude oil, and goods related to oil refining and liquefaction of natural gas.
- Services Prohibitions: Belarus will face a prohibition on various service sectors, including accounting, auditing, bookkeeping, tax consulting, business management, public relations, architectural, engineering, IT consultancy, legal advisory, advertising, market research, and technical inspection services. These measures aim to cut off essential support services to the Belarusian government and affiliated entities.
- Transport Measures: The prohibition on road transport within the EU by Belarusian-registered trailers and semi-trailers has been broadened. This includes a ban on EU operators, with significant Belarusian ownership, from becoming road transport undertakings or transporting goods in the EU.
- Anti-Circumvention Efforts: EU exporters are now required to include a ‘no-Belarus clause’ in contracts, preventing the re-exportation of sensitive goods and technologies to Belarus. Transit of dual-use goods, military-enhancing items, aviation and space industry goods, and arms through Belarusian territory is also prohibited. Due diligence mechanisms will be enforced to ensure battlefield goods are not re-exported to Russia from third countries.
- Protection for EU Operators: The measures include provisions for EU operators to claim compensation for damages resulting from sanctions implementation or expropriation by Belarusian entities, provided no effective remedies are available under relevant bilateral investment treaties.
Background: This decision follows Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, which included attacks launched from Belarusian territory. The EU has previously imposed sanctions on Belarus for its complicity in this aggression. The new measures reinforce the EU’s commitment to holding Belarus accountable and reducing its capacity to support Russia’s military endeavors.
The legal acts detailing these measures will be published in the Official Journal of the EU on 30 June 2024.
Conclusion: These sanctions underscore the EU’s resolve to counteract Belarus’s role in supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine. By targeting key economic sectors and enforcing stringent anti-circumvention protocols, the EU aims to further isolate Belarus and limit its ability to sustain military support for Russia.
For more detailed information, the official press release can be found here.
