New EU sanctions against Belarus

On 29 June 2024, a new sanctions package against Belarus was published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Until that date, the last amendment to Regulation (EC) No. 765/2006, concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and Belarus’ involvement in the Russian aggression against Ukraine, was on 28 February 2024.

Indeed, whereas initially since the outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, European sanctions against Russia and Belarus have been issued ‘in parallel’, in light of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s immediate support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the latter’s aggression against Ukraine, in the last year European sanction measures have focused almost exclusively on Russia.

The enactment of the current sanctions package against Belarus is a significant signal by the authorities to combat Belarus’ military support to Russia and to counter the circumvention of sanctions regulations adopted against Russia.

This is clear from the fact that the current sanctions package, which we will analyse in detail in the following paragraphs, with the necessary additions and changes, mirrors the new regulations recently adopted against Russia (please refer to SIRI No. 15). The aim is evidently to take the safeguards introduced against that country to the highest level, by preventing elusive activities that exploit neighbouring countries to allow prohibited goods to enter Russia. The new restrictive measures are based on the following Decision and Regulation:

• Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1865 of 29 June 2024 amending Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and Belarus’ involvement in the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1864 of 29 June 2024 amending Decision 2012/642/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and Belarus’ involvement in the Russian aggression against Ukraine.