EU extends sanctions against Belarus
The European Union extended its sanctions against Belarus on 30 June 2024. It also harmonised the EU’s sectoral sanctions against Russia and Belarus to prevent circumvention of sanctions against Russia. The sectoral sanctions were prepared as a response to Belarus’s complicity in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The EU’s decision introduced new export restrictions on dual-use items and technologies, luxury items, and goods and technology needed for oil refining. In addition, diamonds and gold originating in Belarus and services associated with them were added to the list of sanctioned products. The EU also banned the provision of certain services (e.g. accounting, auditing and tax consultancy services) to the Belarusian government and to companies in its ownership.
The EU has imposed sanctions against Belarus since 2004 in response to both the country’s internal situation and its complicity in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The EU has imposed sanctions against Belarusian individuals, entities, and sectors of economy. The current sanctions list holds 233 individuals and 37 entities. Belarus is also subject to an arms embargo and a ban on the overflight of EU airspace and on access to EU airports by Belarusian airlines. The previous extension and harmonisation of sanctions against Belarus were decided by the EU in August 2023.
EU sanctions against Belarus:
Inquiries:
- Pia Sarivaara, sanctions team leader, international law unit, tel. +358 29 535 0660
- The email addresses of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are in the format [email protected].