EU extends sanctions imposed over Russia’s annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol

The EU Council has extended sanctions it imposed in response to Russia’s ‘illegal’ annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol until 23 June 2019 (Council Decision [CFSP] 2018/880).

Restrictive measures currently in place include prohibitions on EU companies or EU-based individuals concerning:

• imports of products originating in Crimea or Sevastopol into the EU;
• investment in Crimea or Sevastopol, including the purchase of real estate or entities in Crimea, the financing of Crimean companies or supply related services;
• tourism services in Crimea or Sevastopol, meaning that European cruise ships cannot call at ports in the Crimean peninsula except in cases of emergency;
• exports of certain goods and technologies to Crimean companies or for use in Crimea in the transport, telecommunications and energy sectors and related to the ‘prospection, exploration and production of oil, gas and mineral resources’. The provision of technical assistance, brokering, construction or engineering services related to infrastructure in these sectors is also banned.

Since March 2014, the US and the EU have imposed a range of restrictive measures against Russia and individuals connected with the ‘illegal’ annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol and the ‘deliberate’ destabilisation of Ukraine.

The UK has issued a Notice to Exporters 2018/14 to alert exporters to the extended sanctions.

For Notice to Exporters 2018/14 see:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-to-exporters-201814-eu-renews-russia-sanctions-concerning-annexation-of-crimea-and-sevastopol/notice-to-exporters-201814-eu-renews-russia-sanctions-concerning-annexation

For the EU’s press release see:

www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/06/18/illegal-annexation-of-crimea-and-sevastopol-eu-extends-sanctions-by-one-year/?utm_source=dsms-auto&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Illegal+annexation+of+Crimea+and+Sevastopol%3a+EU+extends+sanctions+by+one+year