EU Sanctions: Attention - No trading with Crimea or Donetsk and Luhansk breakaway regions
The EU targets trade from Crimea and the two breakaway regions to and from the EU, to ensure that those responsible clearly feel the economic consequences of their illegal and aggressive actions.
Restrictions on economic relations with the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts
Measures target trade from the two non-government controlled regions to and from the EU, to ensure that those responsible clearly feel the economic consequences of their illegal and aggressive actions.
The EU introduced, in particular,
an import ban on goods from the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts,
restrictions on trade and investments related to certain economic sectors, a prohibition to supply tourism services,
and an export ban for certain goods and technologies.
Crimea
Since March 2014, the EU has progressively imposed restrictive measures in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea, Russia's decision to recognise the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as independent entities and the deliberate destabilisation of Ukraine.
The EU has imposed different types of restrictive measures:
diplomatic measures
individual restrictive measures (asset freezes and travel restrictions)
restrictions on economic relations with Crimea and Sevastopol
economic sanctions
restrictions on economic cooperation
Below you can find more information on each type of restrictive measures.
Diplomatic measures
In 2014, the EU-Russia summit was cancelled and EU member states decided not to hold regular bilateral summits with Russia. 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 - without Russia - 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).
Individual restrictive measures
Asset freezes and travel restrictions
555 people and 52 entities are subject to an asset freeze and a travel ban because their actions have undermined Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. The list of sanctioned persons and entities are kept under constant review and are subject to periodic renewals by the Council.
These measures were introduced in March 2014. They were last extended until 15 March 2022.
List of persons and entities under EU restrictive measures over the territorial integrity of Ukraine (Official Journal of the EU)
Misappropriation of Ukrainian state funds
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 2022.
Restrictions on economic relations with non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk
The Council adopted restrictive measures in response to the decision by the Russian Federation to proceed with the recognition of the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in Ukraine as independent entities, and the ensuing decision to send Russian troops into these areas.
The scope of the measures is limited to the non-government controlled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. These measures include:
an import ban on goods
restrictions on trade and investment related to certain economic sectors
a prohibition on supplying tourism services
an export ban on certain goods and technologies
Restrictions on economic relations with Crimea and Sevastopol
The Council adopted restrictive measures in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation.
The measures apply to EU nationals and EU-based companies. Their scope is limited to the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol.
These measures include:
an import ban on goods
restrictions on trade and investment related to certain economic sectors and infrastructure projects
a prohibition on supplying tourism services
an export ban on certain goods and technologies
On 21 June 2021, the Council extended these measures until 23 June 2022.
Economic sanctions targeting exchanges with Russia in specific economic sectors
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, which was scheduled for the end of December 2015. Since this did not happen, the Council extended the economic sanctions until 31 July 2016.
The economic sanctions have been extended successively for six months at a time since 1 July 2016.
The decision to extend them was made each time following an assessment of the implementation of the Minsk agreements. The economic sanctions are currently extended until 31 July 2022.
These restrictive measures:
limit access to EU primary and secondary capital markets for certain Russian banks and companies
impose an export and import ban on trade in arms
establish an export ban on dual-use goods for military use or military end users in Russia
curtail Russian access to certain sensitive technologies and services that can be used for oil production and exploration
On 23 February 2022, the Council decided to introduce a sectoral prohibition on financing the Russian Federation, its government and Central Bank. By restricting the ability of the Russian state and government to access the EU’s capital and financial markets and services, the EU aims to limit the financing of escalatory and aggressive policies.
Measures concerning economic cooperation
Restrictions on economic cooperation were introduced by EU leaders in July 2014:
the European Investment Bank (EIB) was requested to suspend the signing of new financing operations in the Russian Federation
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 suspending the financing of new operations
the implementation of EU bilateral and regional cooperation programmes with Russia was re-assessed and certain programmes suspended.
