The Council of the European Union (EU) adopted this Friday the XI package of sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, with the aim of cooperating with third countries and admitting “exceptional measures of last resort”.
“The Council today adopted the 11th package of economic and individual restrictive measures aimed at tightening current EU sanctions and preventing them from being circumvented, thus further eroding Putin’s war machine and income,” the structure announces. that brings together the European Member States, in a disseminated note.
According to the Council, the package now approved – 11, which required the unanimity of the EU countries after the initial opposition of Hungary and Greece – aims to “strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with third countries and the provision of technical assistance” precisely to prevent sanctions from being circumvented.
In cases where “cooperation does not produce the expected results, the EU will take prompt, proportionate and specific measures,” the institution says.
“If, despite individual sanctions and a greater commitment, evasion continues to be substantial and systemic, the EU will have the possibility of taking exceptional measures of last resort”, stresses the Council, noting that, unanimously, they can decide restrictions on the “sale, supply and transfer or export of goods and technologies whose export to Russia is already prohibited” to third countries that represent “continued risk” to evade sanctions.
Today’s official adoption comes after the ambassadors of the member states to the EU reached a political agreement on the 11th package of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday.
This is, from the outset, an expansion of the list of persons and entities covered by the restrictive measures to prohibit third countries from helping Russia to intentionally evade EU sanctions, as well as the inclusion of more products subject to restrictions for which controls of shipments in transit (such as advanced technology and aircraft parts).
In all, the Council added another 87 entities to the list of entities that directly support Russia’s military-industrial complex, including four Iranian entities that make unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).
Also at issue are limitations on the sale of certain items to specific third countries where there is a risk that they will be used to circumvent the rules, such as goods and technologies that could contribute to Russia’s military and technological reinforcement.
As with the previous 10 sanctions packages, this new package had to be unanimously approved by the Member States.
The EU imposed sanctions on Russia in response to the war of aggression launched against Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, and the illegal annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine.
All existing sanctions packages are aimed at causing serious consequences for Russia for its actions and impeding Moscow’s ability to continue the war against Ukraine.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Source: TSF