The Council today adopted restrictive measures targeting the Belarusian economy, in view of the regime’s involvement in Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. These comprehensive measures aim at mirroring several of the restrictive measures already in place against Russia, and thereby address the issue of circumvention stemming from the high degree of integration existing between the Russian and Belarusian economies. The measures agreed today will affect various sectors of the Belarusian economy: TradeThe Council is extending the export ban on dual-use/advanced goods and technologies, as well as introducing further export restrictions on goods which could contribute to the enhancement of Belarusian industrial capacities. Further restrictions are also introduced on exports to Belarus of maritime navigation goods and technologies, and luxury goods. Regarding imports, it will be prohibited to import directly or indirectly, purchase or transfer namely of gold and diamonds from Belarus, as well as helium, coal and mineral products including crude oil. The latter measure will be complemented by a new export ban on goods and technologies suitable for use in oil refining and the liquefaction of natural gas. ServicesThe Council is prohibiting the provision of certain services to Belarus, its government, public bodies, corporations or agencies and to any natural or legal person acting on behalf or at their direction: - accounting services, auditing services, including statutory audit, bookkeeping services, tax consulting services, business and management consulting services, and public relations services;
- architectural and engineering services, as well as IT consultancy services and legal advisory services;
- advertising, market research and public opinion polling services, as well as product testing and technical inspection services.
TransportThe Council is broadening the prohibition on the transport of goods by road within the territory of the EU, by trailers and semi-trailers registered in Belarus, including when hauled by trucks registered outside Belarus. In order to minimise the risk of circumvention, EU operators which are owned for 25% or more by a Belarusian natural or legal person, should be prohibited from becoming a road transport undertaking or from transporting goods by road in the Union, including in transit. Anti-circumventionToday’s decision requires that EU exporters insert in their future contract the so-called 'no-Belarus clause', through which they contractually prohibit the re-exportation to Belarus or re-exportation for use in Belarus of sensitive goods and technology, battlefield goods, firearms and ammunition. In order to minimise the risk of circumvention, the EU will prohibit the transit via the territory of Belarus of dual-use goods and technologies, goods and technologies which might contribute to Belarus’s military and technological enhancement or to the development of its defence and security sector, goods which could contribute to the enhancement of Belarusian industrial capacities, goods and technologies for use in the aviation or space industry, as well as arms exported from the EU. In addition, in order to help counter the re-exportation of battlefield goods found in Ukraine or critical to the development of Russian military systems, it was decided that EU operators selling such battlefield goods to third countries will need to implement due diligence mechanisms capable of identifying and assessing risks of re-exportation to Russia and mitigating them. Lastly, EU parent companies will be required to undertake their best efforts to ensure that their third-country subsidiaries do not take part in any activities resulting in an outcome that the sanctions seek to prevent. Protection of EU operatorsThe package also includes measures to allow EU operators to claim compensation from damages caused by Belarusian individuals and companies due to sanctions implementation and expropriation, provided that the member state national or company concerned does not have effective access to remedies, for example under the relevant bilateral investment treaty. The relevant legal acts will be published in the Official Journal of the EU tomorrow. BackgroundOn 24 February 2022, Russia launched an illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and Russian armed forces attacked the country - including from the territory of Belarus – in blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. On 2 March 2022, the Council adopted an amendment to decision 2012/642/CFSP, thereby introducing further restrictive measures in response to the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine. In its conclusions of 20 and 21 October 2022, the European Council called on the Belarusian authorities to stop enabling the Russian war of aggression by permitting Russian armed forces to use Belarusian territory, and by providing support to the Russian military, as well as stressed that the EU remained ready to implement further sanctions against Belarus. In its conclusions of 23 March 2023 and 29 and 30 June 2023, the European Council condemned the continued military support for Russia’s war of aggression provided by Belarus and stressed that Belarus must stop allowing Russian armed forces to use its territory, including for the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons. | 
