29/01/24 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 29 January, the Council of the European Union renewed the EU’s restrictive measures for a further six months, until 31 July 2024, because of “the Russian Federation’s continuing actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine”. These sanctions were introduced in July 2014 and have been significantly expanded since February 2022. They include restrictions on trade, finance, technology and dual-use goods, industry, energy, transport and luxury goods. They also include the withdrawal of SWIFT from several Russian banks and the suspension of the broadcasting activities and licences of several Kremlin-backed disinformation outlets. Specific measures have also been introduced to strengthen the EU’s ability to combat the circumvention of sanctions. (CG)