The European Union announced the 11th package of sanctions against Russia during the European Council meeting held on Friday, 23 June. This round targets 87 entities described as supporting the Russian military industrial complex and tightens controls on dual-use goods and technologies that could assist Moscow’s war effort.
At the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs a spokesperson indicated the new measures have taken effect. The ministry reiterated it will oppose foreign firms that help Russia bypass sanctions or procure drone technologies from Iran.
The list of sanctioned entities includes companies linked to Armenia, Iran, China, the United Arab Emirates and Syria, according to official briefings.
What are EU sanctions?
The package also tightens restrictions on the export of cars, electric vehicles and hybrids to Russia. It further prohibits the sale of air and naval weapons to Moscow.
The EU barred ships violating the oil embargo or price cap from entering its ports and vessels that fail to maintain continuous vessel tracking. More than 100 Russian officials, military personnel, media workers and business figures were added to EU sanctions lists.
The Union also stopped the entry of trailers and semi-trailers from Russia. It tightened imports of electrical components, semiconductors, optical parts, navigation devices and certain metals along the northern Druzhba oil pipeline route to Germany, Poland and Russia itself.
Additionally, Brussels targeted media outlets under Russian influence, including Tsargrad, RT Balkan, Oriental Review, New Eastern Outlook and Katehon, for propagandistic activity aimed at undermining civil society. The measures followed a briefing from the Council of Europe.
Export controls were expanded to include 15 categories of components used in Russian weapons systems.
Mechanism to counter evasion of sanctions
The EU introduced a framework to address sanctions evasion by third countries. This mechanism acts as a last resort when direct communications and existing measures do not prevent circumvention.
It also extended a ban on transit through Russia for goods considered sensitive items, including advanced and aerospace technology, to prevent their diversion.
Exporters of iron and steel to the EU must declare that their raw materials originate outside Russia to ensure traceability and compliance.
Furthermore, the EU prohibits selling, licensing or transferring intellectual property rights related to sanctioned goods to third countries and restricts the sharing of trade secrets linked to those products. The aim is to keep European-made specifications unique and difficult to replicate elsewhere in the world.
The next package of sanctions
In comments tied to future steps, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk said work has begun on the 12th package of sanctions against Moscow. The plan includes measures aimed at reducing key revenue streams for Russia, with discussions reportedly touching on a potential restriction on Russian diamonds.
Earlier remarks by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, following a May 9 meeting in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled the intent for additional penalties to curb evasion of restrictions.
The earlier 10th package, approved by Brussels in late February 2023 to mark the one-year milestone of the war, targeted more than 120 Russian entities and broadened restrictions on both imports and exports.