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Nine years after the beginning of Russia’s invasion and
occupation of Crimea and one year after its full-scale invasion of
Ukraine, the G7 Leaders issued a statement on February 24, 2023, committing to
strengthening existing sanctions against Russia and
“presenting a united front through the imposition of new
coordinated economic actions against Russia.” Acting on this
statement, new sanctions were introduced in the days that followed
by the European Union and the United States (See HHR Client Advisory).
On February 25, 2023, the EU adopted a tenth package of restrictive measures
(sanctions) against Russia, “giving another turn of the screw to the
government of the Russian Federation and those responsible for
Russia’s continuing war of aggression.” The new
package introduces a series of measures designed to further weaken the Russian government’s ability to
wage and finance its war, including (i) new asset freeze
listings, (ii) enhanced reporting obligations, (iii) trade
sanctions affecting more than 11.4 billion euros of exports and 1.3 billion
euros of imports, and (iv) sectoral sanctions in the field of
energy, transport and media.
The new EU measures were implemented through five Council Decisions and five
Council Regulations.
1. Individual restrictive measures
New designations
On February 25, 2023, the EU added 87 individuals and 34
entities to its restricted parties list through Council Implementing Regulation 2023/429. The
newly-listed individuals and entities include, among others, decision makers, proxy
authorities in occupied regions of Ukraine, individuals and
entities related to the Russian military and defense sectors,
individuals responsible for the deportation and forced adoption of
Ukrainian children, propagandists and media entities, entities
providing substantial sources of revenue to Russia (including in
the financial and industrial sectors), as well as four Iranian
individuals involved in the supply of drones to Russia and one
shipping company from the United Arab Emirates linked to
Sovcomflot. Newly-designated entities include financial
institutions such as Alfa-Bank, Rosbank, Tinkoff Bank and the
Russian National Reinsurance Company, as well as the National
Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation.
In total, as of today, 1473 individuals and 205 entities have been
placed on the EU restricted parties list under the Russian program
in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial
integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine.
Additions to the EU’s restricted parties were also adopted
on the same day against one individual under the Mali sanctions
regime, through Council Implementing Regulation 2023/428, and
against eight individuals and seven entities under the Global Human
Rights Sanctions regime, through Council Implementing Regulation 2023/430, all
related to the Wagner Group.
Newly-designated individuals and entities are subject to an
asset freeze and a prohibition from making funds and economic
resources available to them, as well as, for individuals, a travel
ban in the EU as of the date on which they were respectively added
to the EU’s restricted parties list.
Extension of existing deadlines for derogations
Pursuant toCouncil Regulation 2023/426, the wind down
period for divestments has been extended. Authorizations can now be
granted for the sale and transfer of proprietary rights owned by
asset freeze targets in EU entities by May 31, 2023 (instead of
February 28, 2023) or six months from their listing, whichever is
later.
New derogations
Pursuant to Council Regulation 2023/426, the relevant
enforcement authorities of the competent Member States
(“National Competent Authorities”) may authorize the
release of certain frozen funds or economic resources of, or the
making available of certain funds or economic resources to:
- Alfa-Bank, Rosbank and Tinkoff Bank for:
- The termination by August 26, 2023, of operations, contracts or
other agreements concluded with those banks before February 25,
2023; and - Transactions that are necessary for the purchase, import or
transport of agricultural and food products (including wheat and
fertilizers).
- The termination by August 26, 2023, of operations, contracts or
- Alfa-Bank for:
- Transactions for the disbursement of funds by the Jewish Claims
Conference to beneficiaries in the Russian Federation by November
26, 2023, irrespective of when the operations, contracts or other
agreements were concluded.
- Transactions for the disbursement of funds by the Jewish Claims
- Commercial Vehicles – GAZ Group for:
- The termination by August 26, 2023, of operations, contracts or
other agreements concluded with, or otherwise involving, that
entity before February 25, 2023.
- The termination by August 26, 2023, of operations, contracts or
- The National Settlement Depository for:
- The disposal or the transfer of securities by an EU entity,
currently or previously controlled by VTB Bank, to be completed by
July 24, 2023, on the basis of operations, contracts or agreements
concluded with, or otherwise involving, the National Settlement
Depository before June 3, 2022.
- The disposal or the transfer of securities by an EU entity,
Revised reporting obligations
Pursuant to Council Regulation 2023/426, as of April 26,
2023, the following information should be reported to
National Competent Authorities within two weeks of
acquiring this information:
- Information on frozen funds and economic resources, as well as
funds and economic resources within the EU territory that belong
to, are owned, held or controlled by asset freeze targets and which
have not been treated as frozen; - Information on funds and economic resources belonging to,
owned, held, or controlled by asset freeze targets which have been
subject to any move, transfer, alteration, use of, access to, or
dealing that would be prohibited under an asset freeze measure in
the two weeks preceding the listing of the asset freeze
target.
The nature and scope of information to be supplied is now
defined and must include the identification of the persons, amounts
or market values and types of funds or economic resources
involved.
Importantly, the role of the European Commission
(“Commission”) is reinforced. Whereas information
exchange requirements previously applied between National Competent
Authorities and the Commission, Member States are now expressly
required to provide the information reported to them to the
Commission within two weeks. Furthermore, the Commission is now
empowered to request information from both the Member States and
relevant natural or legal persons, in order to verify the
information reported.
Finally, Member States and relevant persons shall cooperate with
the Commission in any verification of this information, with the
Commission empowered to request any additional information it
requires to carry out such verification.
Finally, central securities depositories are subject to further
enhanced reporting obligations, covering also information on
extraordinary and unforeseen loss and damage concerning the
relevant funds and economic resources, to be communicated within
two weeks of acquiring the information and updated every three
months thereafter to both National Competent Authorities and the
Commission.
2. State-owned entities (transaction ban)
As a reminder, it is prohibited to directly or indirectly engage
in any transaction with (i) entities listed in Annex XIX of
Regulation 833/2014, (ii) entities established outside the EU they
own for more than 50% and (iii) entities acting on their behalf or
at their direction.
Council Regulation 2023/427 extends or
introduces new exemptions or derogations to Article 5aa, paragraph
3 of Regulation 833/2014
- Extended exemption for the winding-down of joint
ventures – Transactions strictly necessary for the
wind-down of joint ventures or similar legal arrangements concluded
before March 16, 2022, and involving an entity subject to the
transaction ban can now be completed until December 31, 2023
(instead of June 30, 2023). - New exemption for pilot services – The
provision of pilot services to vessels in innocent passage
necessary for reasons of maritime safety is exempted from the
transaction ban. - Extended derogation for divestments –
Authorizations can be granted for transactions strictly necessary
for the divestment and withdrawal by December 31, 2023 (instead of
June 30, 2023) of an entity subject to the transaction ban or their
EU subsidiaries from an EU entity.
3. Trade sanctions
Council Regulation 2023/427 reinforces
restrictions applicable to dual-use items, advanced technology and
firearms and makes significant amendments to the lists of items
subject to import- or export-related restrictions, while also
providing for new exemptions, derogations or quotas. It also
clarifies the scope of “imports” and introduces a general
exemption in relation to restricted technical assistance.
Transit of dual-use and firearms (export-related
restrictions)
- New prohibition on transit via the territory of Russia
of dual-use items, firearms, their parts and essential components
and ammunition exported from the EU.- For dual-use items, exemptions and derogations are modelled on
those applicable to prohibitions on sale, supply, transfer, or
export, although the scope of available exemptions and derogations
is more limited. - For firearms, neither exemptions nor derogations are
foreseen.
- For dual-use items, exemptions and derogations are modelled on
Dual-use and advanced technology items (export-related
restrictions)
- Extension of the list of entities subject
toenhanced restrictionsin
relation to dual-use and advanced technology items (Annex IV of
Regulation 833/2014) to cover an additional 96 entities,
including 7 Iranian entities that have been supplying Russia with
drones.
Advanced technology items (export-related restrictions)
- Extension of the list of controlled items (Annex VII of
Regulation 833/2014) to include:- Specific rare earth materials (Part A of the Annex);
- Electronic integrated circuits (Part B, category 2, CN Code
8537); - Thermal cameras (Part B, Category 3, CN Codes 8525, 9013,
9025); and - Other electrical or magnetic components (Part B, Category 4, CN
Codes 8529, 8532).
Aviation and space industry (export-related restrictions)
- Extension of the list of controlled items (Annex XI of
Regulation 833/2014) to include a new part D covering
certain turbojets and their parts. - A wind-down exemption is introduced for newly
controlled items listed in part D, allowing the execution until
March 27, 2023, of contracts concluded before February 26, 2023, or
ancillary contracts necessary for the execution of such
contracts.
Goods which can contribute to the enhancement of Russian
industrial capacities (export-related restrictions)
- Extension of the list of controlled items (Annex XXIII
of Regulation 833/2014) to include a new part C covering
items such as iron and steel products, vehicles (heavy trucks,
semi-trailers, special vehicles, etc.), goods easily directed to
the Russian military (electric generators, binoculars, radars,
compasses, etc.), construction goods (bridges, structures,
fork-lift trucks, cranes, etc.), industrial goods (electronics,
machine parts, pumps, machinery for working metals, etc.) and
complete industrial plants. - Exemptions and derogations:
- A wind-down exemption is introduced for newly
controlled items listed in part C (except for iron and steel
products falling under CN codes 7208 25, 7208 90, 7209 25, 7209 28,
7219 24), allowing the execution until March 27, 2023, of contracts
concluded before February 26, 2023, or ancillary contracts
necessary for the execution of such contracts. - Derogations are available for newly controlled
items in part C, which are strictly necessary for the production of
titanium goods required in the aeronautic industry, for which no
alternative supply is available. - Technical adjustment –The
derogationslaid down in article 3k(5a) of Regulation 833/2014 for
goods necessary for personal household use of natural persons have
been limited to goods falling under CN code 8417 20 (references to
CN codes 8419 81 80 and 8438 10 10 have been removed, as those CN
codes were not covered by Annex XXIII in the first place).
- A wind-down exemption is introduced for newly
Goods which generate significant revenues for Russia
(import-related restrictions)
- Extension of the list of controlled items (Annex XXI of
Regulation 833/2014) to include a new part C covering certain
petroleum material (CN Code 2712 and 2713), bitumen and related
materials like asphalt (CN Code 2714 and 2715) as well as synthetic
rubber (CN Code 4002) and carbon blacks (CN Code 2803).- A wind-down exemption is introduced for newly
controlled items listed in part C (except for carbon and synthetic
rubber), allowing the execution until May 27, 2023, of contracts
concluded before February 16, 2023, or ancillary contracts
necessary for the execution of such contracts. - For carbon (CN 2803) and synthetic rubber (CN
4002), a quota is introduced until June 30, 2024 (752 475
tons for carbon and 562 973 tons for synthetic rubber).
- A wind-down exemption is introduced for newly
Clarification on the scope of “imports”
A new Article 12e is inserted in Regulation 833/2014 to provide
that goods subject to import-related restrictions can be released
for free circulation if they were presented to customs before the
entry into force or applicability of import prohibitions, unless
the customs authorities suspect circumvention. Any payment,
however, has to be consistent with the objectives of Council
Regulation 833/2014, including the prohibition on purchasing, and
Council Regulation 269/2014, imposing asset
freeze measures.
Article 12e also specifies that customs authorities shall refuse
the re-export of the goods to Russia.
Horizontal exemption for technical assistance
A new article 12d is inserted in Regulation 833/2014 to provide
for a general exemption confirming that prohibitions on technical
assistance do not apply to the provision of pilot services to
vessels in innocent passage necessary for reasons of maritime
safety.
4. Transport
- Notification requirement for non-scheduled flights
between Russia and the EU– Council Regulation 2023/427 requires
such flights, operated directly or via a third country, to
be notified 48 hours in advance to avoid circumvention of
prohibitions targeting Russian(-related) aircrafts.
5. Central Bank of Russia
Council Regulation 2023/427 introduces
reporting obligations relating to assets and reserves of the
Central Bank of Russia and entities acting on its behalf or at its
direction.
- Parties which hold, control or are counterparties to such
assets and reserves have to supply information thereon within two
weeks after February 26, 2023, to their National Competent
Authorities and the Commission.- This applies to all persons, including the European
Central Bank, national central banks, financial sector entities,
insurance and reinsurance undertakings, central securities
depositories and central counterparties. - The information is to be updated every three
months. - The information to be reported is detailed (identification of
the persons, amounts or market values and types of assets and
reserves involved).
- This applies to all persons, including the European
- Information on extraordinary and unforeseen loss or damage to
the assets and reserves has to be reported immediately to the
National Competent Authorities and the Commission. - Again, the Commission is empowered to request information from
both the Member States and relevant natural or legal persons, in
order to verify the information reported.
6. Restricted services
As a reminder, Article 5n of Regulation 833/2014 prohibits the
provision of accounting, auditing, bookkeeping, tax consulting,
business and management consulting, public relations,
architectural, engineering, legal advisory, IT consultancy, market
research, public opinion polling, technical testing and analysis
and advertising services to Russian entities. Council Regulation 2023/427 introduces a new
derogation in that regard.
- New derogation for services strictly necessary for the
divestment from Russia or the wind-down of business activities in
Russia – The continued provision of restricted
services can be authorized until December 31, 2023, if they
are provided to and for the exclusive benefit of the entity
resulting from the divestment and if the services are not provided
to the Government of Russia, a military end-user or for a military
end-use in Russia.
7. (European) Critical infrastructures and critical
entities
- New prohibition to hold posts in critical
infrastructures – Council Regulation 2023/427 introduces a new
Article 5o in Regulation 833/2014, which prohibits, as of March 27,
2023, Russian nationals and residents from holding posts in the
governing bodies of owners or operators of critical
infrastructures, European critical infrastructures, and critical
entities, identified or designated as such under national laws
pursuant to certain EU directives.- Russia nationals or residents that are also EU, EEA or Swiss
nationals are not subject to this prohibition.
- Russia nationals or residents that are also EU, EEA or Swiss
8. Energy
- New prohibition to provide gas storage capacity in the
EU – Council Regulation 2023/427 introduces a new
Article 5p in Regulation 833/2014, which prohibits the provision of
storage capacity to (i) Russian nationals, residents, or entities,
as well as (ii) entities they own for more than 50% and (iii)
entities acting on their behalf or at their direction.- Exclusion of LNG storage – This
prohibition does not apply to the part of liquefied natural gas
facilities used for storage. - A wind-down exemptions allows operations
necessary for the termination by March 27, 2023, of contracts
concluded before February 26, 2023, or ancillary contracts. - Derogations can be granted if storage capacity
is necessary for ensuring critical energy supply within the
EU.
- Exclusion of LNG storage – This
9. Media
- Extension of broadcasting ban – As we
explained in a previous alert, it is prohibited for operators
to broadcast, to enable, facilitate or otherwise contribute to
broadcast any content, and to advertise products or services in any
content, by the legal persons, entities or bodies listed in Annex
XV of Regulation 833/2014.- In order to address Russia’s campaign of
disinformation and information manipulation, Council Regulation 2023/427 adds RT Arabic and
Sputnik Arabic to Annex XV. These restrictions will enter into
force once a Decision to that effect is adopted.
- In order to address Russia’s campaign of
10. Extension of the List of Partner Countries
Council Regulation 2023/427 extends the list of partner countries (Annex VIII of
Regulation 833/2014) to include Australia, Canada, New Zealand and
Norway.
This list, reflecting EU allies applying a set of export control
measures substantially equivalent to those set out in Regulation
833/2014, triggers the availability of certain exemptions or
derogations in relation to sanctions affecting dual-use items and
advanced technologies, luxury goods, goods which could contribute
in particular to the enhancement of Russian industrial capacities
and restricted business services.
11. EU FAQs
On February 28, and March 3, 2023, following this new package,
the Commission updated the consolidated version of its FAQs on the
implementation of Regulations 833/2014 and 269/2014 on its
dedicated webpage.
Furthermore, a brief “questions and answers” memo on
the tenth package is available on the European Commission’s website.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.