Agreement was reached at the committee of permanent representatives of all 27 member states in Brussels. Now, it must be formalized in a written procedure by Saturday, at 11:30 am. The package will enter into force as soon as it is published in the Official Journal of the EU.
The sanctions package includes “measures against individuals and legal entities who support war, spread propaganda or deliver drones,” the Swedish EU Council Presidency said on Twitter.
It’s been a year since Russia’s brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Today, the EU approved the 10th package of sanctions against Russia.
The package includes, for example:
– Tighter export restrictions regarding dual use and technology
(1/3)
— Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU (@sweden2023eu) February 24, 2023
In the end, Poland waved the package
In fact, the new sanctions were supposed to take effect on the anniversary, but the negotiations took longer than planned. According to diplomats, the main reason for this was that Poland was pressing vehemently for tighter rules on restrictions on the import of synthetic rubber from Russia, but Italy rejected them. Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called the package “very light and very weak” on Friday.
Portal/Viacheslav Ratynskyi Polish prime minister called package ‘very light and very weak’ ahead of deal
Poland finally gave in. According to a Polish diplomat, Warsaw has agreed on the condition that imports of synthetic rubber into the EU are subject to regular checks in the future. In addition, work continues on sanctions against the Russian nuclear sector.
Goods that cannot be obtained from China
According to previous information from Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the new trade restrictions will apply in particular to industrial goods that Russian industry cannot obtain from third countries such as China. This includes machine parts, antennas, cranes, special vehicles and spare parts for trucks and engines.
AP/Jean-François Badias According to the head of the EU Commission, the new restrictions apply to industrial goods
In addition, there are said to be export restrictions on around 50 new electronic components that could be used for Russian weapons systems, as well as drones, rockets and helicopters. Certain rare earths and thermal imaging cameras are also covered by the new rules.
Sanctions regime is being extended
In order to prevent companies from non-EU countries from supplying Russia with civilian goods that can be used for military purposes, such as drones, the application of the existing sanctions regime will be extended. In the future, companies will have to fear losing access to the EU’s internal market.
According to the Commission, several Iranian companies involved in supplying Russia with Shahed-type drones will be sanctioned as a first step. “We want to use this to scare other companies and international traders,” von der Leyen said in mid-February.
As with previous sanctions packages, the list of people who can no longer enter the EU and whose EU assets are to be frozen will also be added. Propagandists, military commanders and political leaders would be affected.