Tag Archives: European Council

EU Council Agrees to Develop Sanctions Framework to Address Cyber Attacks

By Trade Practitioner on Posted in EU, Europe & Central Asia, Export Controls & Sanctions
Following a Council press release from 19 June 2017, it has been revealed that the Council has agreed to develop a framework for a joint EU diplomatic response to malicious cyber activities, referred to as the “cyber diplomacy toolbox”. Of note, the press release states that “the EU is concerned by the increased ability and willingness of state and … Continue Reading

EU Renews Its Sanctions Against Crimea and Sevastopol

By Trade Practitioner on Posted in EU, Europe & Central Asia, Export Controls & Sanctions, Sevastopol, Ukraine
On 19 June 2017, the Council extended its territorial sanctions against Crimea and Sevastopol until 23 June 2018. Under these sanctions, EU members are prohibited to import into the EU goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol, with the exception of goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol that have been granted a certificate of origin by the Government of Ukraine. In … Continue Reading

EU Updates Listings of Individuals and Entities on Its Sanctions Against Iran

By Trade Practitioner on Posted in EU, Europe & Central Asia, Export Controls & Sanctions, Iran, Middle East & North Africa
On 23 June 2017, the Council updated the listing information for 14 entities and 23 individuals who are listed on the EU’s anti-nuclear proliferation sanctions against Iran. Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1124 implements Council Regulation 267/2012 and Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2017/1127 implements Council Decision 2010/413/CFSP.… Continue Reading

EU Extends Economic Sanctions Against Russia by Six Months

By Trade Practitioner on Posted in EU, Europe & Central Asia, Export Controls & Sanctions
On 28 June 2017, the European Council extended the economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy until 31 January 2018. These sanctions were originally introduced on 31 July 2014 in response to Russia’s actions destablising the situation in Ukraine and to target the financial, energy and defence sectors, as well as dual-use goods. The EU has expressed that … Continue Reading

EU Diplomats Support Keeping Sanctions Against Russia Over Ukraine

By Trade Practitioner on Posted in EU, Export Controls & Sanctions
Following a recent European Council meeting on 6 February, EU foreign ministers have stated that sanctions against Russia must remain in force until it helps end fighting in eastern Ukraine. Foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini stated that the EU will never recognise Russia’s 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and insisted that all sides must … Continue Reading

EU Extends Russia Sanctions

By Trade Practitioner on Posted in Export Controls & Sanctions
On 19 December, the European Council extended the application of economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy for a further six months until 31 July 2017. These restrictions were introduced on 31 July 2014 by way of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 “concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in … Continue Reading

EU Amends Its Sanctions on Syria

By Trade Practitioner on Posted in Export Controls & Sanctions
The European Council has amended its sanctions against Syria in order to allow for the otherwise prohibited purchase or transportation of oil and petroleum products in Syria, where the sole purpose is to provide humanitarian relief or assistance to the Syrian population. The amendments also include a corresponding derogation from the asset freeze and travel … Continue Reading

EU Amends Economic Sanctions against Guinea, Moldova, Yemen, and Zimbabwe

By Trade Practitioner on Posted in EU, Europe & Central Asia, Export Controls & Sanctions, Middle East & North Africa
The Council of the European Union (the “Council”) has issued Council Decisions amending sanctions regimes in force with respect to Guinea, Moldova, Yemen and Zimbabwe. See Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1923 (Guinea), Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1925 (Moldova), Council  Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2015/1927 (Yemen) and  Council Decision  (CFSP) 2015/1924 (Zimbabwe), inter alia, amending the list of individuals … Continue Reading

The Council of the EU Votes to Renew Sanctions Adopted with Respect to Ukraine for Six Months

By Trade Practitioner on Posted in EU, Europe & Central Asia, Export Controls & Sanctions, Trade Policy & Market Access, Ukraine
On 14 September 2015, the Council of the EU voted to extend sanctions in respect of the actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine until March 2016. The sanctions, imposed by way of Regulation 269/2014 and Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP, were due to expire in September. They comprise EU-wide asset freezes as … Continue Reading

Iran

By Trade Practitioner on Posted in EU, Europe & Central Asia, Export Controls & Sanctions, Iran, Trade Policy & Market Access
Following the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) (reported in our previous blog post) the EU adopted the first legal acts implementing the sanctions relief, permitting shipment of certain nuclear-related equipment out of Iran and the modification of certain nuclear plants in Iran, along with the activities to enable Iran to satisfy certain commitments in … Continue Reading

Russia, and the Situation in Ukraine, Crimea and Sevastopol

By Trade Practitioner on Posted in Albania, Crimea, EFTA, EU, Europe & Central Asia, Export Controls & Sanctions, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Norway, Russia, Sevastopol, Switzerland, Trade Policy & Market Access, Ukraine
Montenegro and Albania both aligned themselves with the Decisions of the Council to extend the sanctions in place in response to the “illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol” and in respect of the situation in Ukraine. EFTA countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, have followed suit and extended their own sanctions regimes to match the extended … Continue Reading

Extension of Russia and Crimea Sanctions

By Trade Practitioner on Posted in Crimea, EU, Europe & Central Asia, Export Controls & Sanctions, Russia, Sevastopol, Trade Policy & Market Access
The sanctions imposed against Russia and Crimea have been extended by the Council of the EU for a further six months for Russia, until 31 January 2016, and for a further 12 months for Crimea and Sevastopol, until 23 June 2016. The scope of the sanctions remains the same as already in force.… Continue Reading

Extension of Asset Freezing Sanctions for Individuals in Respect of the Actions in Ukraine

By Trade Practitioner on Posted in EU, Europe & Central Asia, Export Controls & Sanctions, Trade Policy & Market Access, Ukraine
On 5 June 2015, the European Council extended the asset freeze for three of the four individuals covered by the regime. Two of the individuals have had the asset freezes against them extended by nine months, with the third individual’s sanctions extended by four months. The fourth individual did not have sanctions extended as he … Continue Reading
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