Ukraine territorial integrity: EU renews sanctions

Brussels [ENA] The Council today decided that current sanctions in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine should be extended for a further six months until 15 September 2020. These restrictive measures provide not only for a freezing of funds, but also a prohibition against making funds or other economic resources available to the listed persons.

They currently apply to 175 persons and 44 entities, following the removal of two deceased persons from the list. Other EU measures in place in response to the crisis in Ukraine include: 1. economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy, currently in place until 31 July 2020; 2. restrictive measures in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, limited to the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol, currently in place until 23 June 2020. The legal acts were published in the Official Journal on 13 March 2020.

Since March 2014, the EU has progressively imposed restrictive measures against Russia. The measures were adopted in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and the deliberate destabilisation of Ukraine. The EU imposes different types of restrictive measures: 1. diplomatic measures 2. individual restrictive measures (asset freeze and travel restrictions) 3. restrictions on economic relations with Crimea and Sevastopol economic sanctions 4. restrictions on economic cooperation

In 2014, the EU-Russia summit was cancelled and EU member states decided not to hold regular bilateral summits. Bilateral talks with Russia on visa matters as well as on the new agreement between the EU and Russia were suspended. Instead of the G8 summit in Sochi, a G7 meeting was held in Brussels on 4-5 June 2014. Since then, meetings have continued within the G7 process. EU countries also supported the suspension of negotiations over Russia's joining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Energy Agency (IEA).

175 people and 44 entities are subject to an asset freeze and a travel ban because their actions undermined Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. The measures were introduced in March 2014. They were last extended in September 2019 until 15 September 2020. In March 2014, the Council decided to freeze the assets of individuals responsible for the misappropriation of Ukrainian state funds. These measures were last extended in March 2020 until 6 March 2021.

The Council adopted restrictive measures in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation. The measures apply to EU persons and EU based companies. They are limited to the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol. These measures include: 1. an import ban on goods from Crimea and Sevastopol 2. restrictions on trade and investment related to certain economic sectors and infrastructure projects 3. a prohibition to supply tourism services in Crimea or Sevastopol 4. an export ban for certain goods and technologies On 20 June 2019, the Council extended these measures until 23 June 2020.

In July and September 2014, the EU imposed economic sanctions targeting exchanges with Russia in specific economic sectors. In March 2015, EU leaders decided to align the existing sanctions regime to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements, foreseen for the end of December 2015. Since this did not happen, the Council extended economic sanctions until 31 July 2016. The economic sanctions have been extended for 6 months successively since 1 July 2016.

The extension was decided each time following an assessment of the Minsk agreements implementation. The economic sanctions are currently extended until 31 July 2020. These restrictive measures: 1. limit access to EU primary and secondary capital markets for certain Russian banks and companies 2. impose an export and import ban on trade in arms 3. establish an export ban for dual-use goods for military use or military end users in Russia 4. curtail Russian access to certain sensitive technologies and services that can be used for oil production and exploration

Restrictions on economic cooperation were introduced by EU leaders in July 2014: 1. the EIB was requested to suspend the signature of new financing operations in the Russian Federation 2. EU member states agreed to coordinate their positions within the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Board of Directors with a view to also suspend the financing of new operations 3. the implementation of EU bilateral and regional cooperation programmes with Russia was re-assessed and certain programmes suspended.