Brussels, 17/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 17 June the Council extended, until 23 June 2017, the restrictive measures adopted in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol.
For nationals of the European Union and companies based in the EU, the ban is thus extended on imports of products originating in Crimea or Sevastopol into the EU, on investment in these territories (meaning no purchase of property or entities in Crimea), on financing companies in Crimea, and on supplying related services. Europeans cannot provide tourism services in Crimea or Sevastopol either (in particular, European cruise ships cannot call at ports on the Crimean peninsula except in case of emergency). Exports of certain goods and technologies to Crimean companies or for use in Crimea in the transport, telecommunications and energy sectors, as well as exports of goods and technologies related to the prospection, exploration and production of oil, gas and mineral resources are also prohibited. The ban also involves technical assistance, brokering, construction or engineering services related to infrastructure in these sectors.
The sanctions were taken out for the first time in June 2014 (see EUROPE 11106) and then reinforced in December 2014 (see EUROPE 11221). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)