On 25 July the Council adopted reinforced EU sanctions in view of the situation in Ukraine. The Council’s Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) also discussed the preparatory work on further targeted measures.
Following the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council of 22 July, the Council adopted by written procedure the legal acts which make it possible:
- to target 15 additional persons and 18 new entities with a travel ban and assets freeze. In total, therefore, 87 persons and 20 entities will now be under EU sanctions over the situation in Ukraine
- to extend the designation criteria for imposing asset freezes and visa bans on persons and entities that actively support or are benefiting from the Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea or the destabilisation of Eastern Ukraine
These additional legal acts will enter into force after their publication in the EU Official Journal on 25 July.
At their meeting on 24-25 July, COREPER also discussed additional trade and investment measures related to Crimea and had an exchange of views on the results of the preparatory work by the Commission and the European External Action Service on further targeted measures.
Proposals for taking action include the areas of access to capital markets, defence, dual use goods, and sensitive technologies, including in the energy sector.
Foreign Affairs Council focused on the situation in Eastern Ukraine after the downing of flight MH17
At their meeting on 22 July, EU foreign affairs ministers were shocked and deeply saddened by the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 and the tragic loss of so many innocent lives. EU ministers conveyed their deepest condolences to the people and governments of all the affected nations and in particular to the families of the victims. They strongly condemned the actions undertaken by armed militants in the region. Further sanctions against Russia were also discussed.
