GovWire

The European Union (EU) sanctions have been implemented in response to Russias illegal annexation of Crimea and interventionist policies in eastern Ukraine. They have been closely coordinated with a wide range of international partners.

The UK government is keeping its economic engagement with Russia under close review. Some bilateral cooperation and trade support activity is being affected.

Decisions on any further diplomatic, political and economic measures will be taken in close collaboration with EU and G7 partners.

The UK government will continue to offer UK companies support and guidance. Commercial decisions are ultimately for companies to make themselves on the basis of commercial risk, bearing in mind increased risk that high profile business engagement might be exploited by Russia for political reasons.

Sanctions

On 29 July 2014, the EU agreed to a significant package of measures to deter further destablisation of Ukraine by Russia. These were set out in a Council Decision and Council Regulation. They came into force on 1 August 2014.

On 5 September 2014, the EU agreed to build on this existing package of measures in a further Council Decision and Council Regulation. The extended measures came into force on 12 September 2014. The EU sanctions fall into 3 main areas:

• financial sanctions against designated Russian banks, energy companies and defence companies
• arms embargo and restrictions on certain dual purpose technologies, which although intended for civilian use, might have military application
• restrictions on exports of high tech goods and services in the energy sector

These sanctions were further revised on 4 December 2014 via Council Decision 2014/842/CFSP and Council Regulation (EU) No 1290/2014 2014 (coming into force on 6 December 2014). These measures clarified the scope and application of certain provisions. The amendments can be seen in Notice to Exporters 2014/30 issued on 5 December 2014.

It is for UK companies to make their own commercial decisions as to how to pursue business outside these sanctions.

Financial sanctions

These prevent 5 state owned Russian banks and their subsidiaries accessing EU primary and secondary capital markets. This means that these banks will be unable to purchase, sell, or receive brokering for new transferable securities. These include bonds, shares and money market instruments, such as treasury bills.

The EU has also prevented these targeted banks from accessing loans, another way to limit their access to financing. It has also limited their access to short-term financing by only permitting financing with a maturity of 30 days or less.

The package also extends these financial sanctions to other sectors. 3 entities in the oil sector and 3 defence companies now also have major restrictions on access to the EUs capital and debt markets.

Arms and dual-technology

There is an arms embargo, and a ban on the supply of dual-use goods to Russia for military end-users and for certain other named end-users in Russia. There is also a ban on the provision of technical or financial assistance for supply or sale of these goods.

The UK interprets the arms embargo to apply to all goods and technology on the Military List.

The restrictions on dual-use apply to all items in Annex 1 of Council Regulation 428/2009, except goods and technology intended for the:

• aeronautics and space industry
• maintenance and safety of existing civil nuclear capabilities within the EU.

Energy high tech goods

There are restrictions on the export of certain high-tech goods and associated services to Russia for:

• deep water oil exploration and production
• arctic oil exploration and production
• shale oil projects

Asset bans and travel freezes

132 individuals and 28 entities have now been listed under sanctions applied in response to violations of Ukraines sovereignty.

The sanctions apply to all funds and economic resources belonging to, owned, held or controlled by those persons, entities or bodies listed.

Other measures

The 16 July 2014 European Council agreed to:

• suspend the financing of new projects in Russia by the European Investment Bank (EIB)
• coordinate EU member states positions within the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with a view to suspension of the EBRDs financing of new projects in Russia
• suspend, on a case-by-case basis, certain EU bilateral and regional cooperation programmes with Russia

Russian ban on imports of agricultural products

On 7 August, the Russian government imposed a year long ban on the import of certain agricultural commodities from the EU.

Doing business in Crimea

The UK government maintain a strict policy of non-recognition with respect to Crimea / Sevastopol, in line with UN General Assembly Resolution 68/262. UK businesses should be mindful of the increased commercial risks created by this situation.

Following the EU Foreign Affairs Council of 23 June 2014 EU members agreed to:

• prohibit the import of goods originating from Crimea and Sevastopol with the exception of those with certificates of origin granted by the government of Ukraine
• prohibit direct or indirect financing, or financial assistance for the import of goods from Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as insurance and reinsurance related to such imports

In addition the EU Council agreed on 29 July 2014 to impose measures relating to the illegal annexation of Crimea. These measures imposed on EU citizens and businesses:

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