The first official announcement of the Council on the sixth package of sanctions against Russia, which was reached on Thursday by the Permanent Representatives of the states & # 8211; Brussels says the new sanctions package bans the EU from providing accounting, public relations and consulting services, as well as cloud services in Russia. No further details were given and the announcement refers to the publication of the relevant legal acts in the Official Journal of the EU. The publication will take place shortly, as mentioned.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said that with the current package, we are increasing restrictions on the Kremlin's ability to finance the war by imposing further economic sanctions. We are banning the import of Russian oil into the EU and in this way we are cutting off a huge source of revenue for Russia. We cut most of the major Russian banks from the international SWIFT payment system. We also impose sanctions on those responsible for the atrocities that took place in Buha and Mariupol, and ban more disinformation agents who actively contribute to President Putin's military propaganda. & # 8221 ;.
Oil < br />The EU has decided to ban the purchase, import or transfer of crude oil and some petroleum products from Russia to the EU. The phasing out of Russian oil will take from 6 months for crude oil to 8 months for other refined petroleum products. A temporary exemption is provided for the import of crude oil through pipelines to those EU Member States which, due to their geographical location, suffer from a special dependence on Russian supplies and have no viable alternatives.
In addition, Bulgaria and Croatia will also benefit from temporary derogations for the import of Russian crude oil from the sea and vacuum oil respectively.
De-SWIFTing banks
The EU extends the existing ban on the provision of specialized financial messaging services (SWIFT) to three additional Russian credit institutions & # 8211; the largest Russian bank Sberbank, the Credit Bank of Moscow and the Russian Agricultural Bank & # 8211; and the Belarus Development and Reconstruction Bank.
Media
The EU is suspending broadcasting in the EU by three other Russian state agencies: Rossiya RTR/RTR Planeta, Rossiya 24/Russia 24 and TV Center International. According to the statement, these structures have been used by the Russian government as a means of manipulating information and promoting misinformation about the invasion of Ukraine, including propaganda, in order to destabilize neighboring Russia and the EU and its member states. . According to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, these measures will not prevent these media and their staff from engaging in activities in the EU other than broadcasting, e.g. research and interviews.
Export restrictions
The EU is expanding the list of persons and entities subject to export restrictions on dual-use goods and technology. These additions to the list include both Russian and Belarusian entities. In addition, the EU will expand the list of goods and technology that can contribute to the technological support of Russia's defense and security sector. This will include 80 chemicals that can be used to make chemical weapons.
Consulting services
The EU will ban accounting, public relations and consulting services services as well as cloud services in Russia.
Individual registrations
In addition, the Council decided to impose sanctions on additional natural and legal persons: those responsible for the atrocities committed by Russian troops in Bucharest and Mariupol, to pro-war figures, to top businessmen and family members of prominent Kremlin oligarchs and officials, as well as to defense companies and a financial institution.
