On Saturday, June 29, the European Union approved new sanctions on Belarus in response to the Lukashenko regime’s involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions on Belarus affect several key areas:
1) Trade
- Ban on dual-use items: The ban on dual-use items, advanced technologies, maritime navigation goods, and luxury goods is extended.
- Imports: The import of gold, diamonds, helium, coal, and mineral products, including crude oil, is prohibited.
2) Services
- Service restrictions: Various services to Belarus, its government, and other related entities are prohibited. This includes accounting, auditing, architecture, engineering, IT consultancy, legal advisory, advertising, and product support services.
3) Transport
- Road transport: The ban on road transport within the EU for Belarusian trailers and semi-trailers is expanded. Additionally, EU operators with Belarusian ownership exceeding 25% are prohibited from transporting goods by road within the EU.
Measures against evasion
- “No Belarus” clause: The re-exportation of sensitive goods and technology to Belarus, as well as firearms and ammunition, is contractually prohibited.
- Transit ban: The transit of dual-use items and other goods through Belarus is not permitted.
- Due diligence: EU companies must have effective due diligence mechanisms to prevent their subsidiaries in third countries from circumventing the sanctions.
Protection of EU operators
EU operators can claim compensation for damages related to the implementation of the sanctions.
The adopted measures reflect the EU’s determination to address Belarus’s complicity in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
