EU trade sanctions adopted in response to Russia’s decision to recognise the non-government-controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine as independent entities came into effect on February 24.

The package includes provisions restricting certain trading activities with the non-government controlled Ukrainian territories of Donetsk and Luhansk. These controls relate to certain goods and technology for use in the telecommunications, transport, energy and oil production sectors.

Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs, commented: "Ireland, along with the other EU Member States, is unwavering in its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia’s illegal actions have left the EU with no choice but to introduce comprehensive and extensive sanctions.

“We have made clear our support for these measures, even though they will not be cost-free for Ireland or for other EU Member States. Following the most recent escalation by Russia, a second package of hard-hitting sanctions will be introduced very shortly, in coordination with our international partners."

The full list of items to which the restrictions apply is specified in Annex II of Council Regulation (EU) 2022/263 of 23 February 2022.

In Association with

Specifically, the Regulation provides that:

• it shall be prohibited to import into the European Union the specified goods and technology originating in the specified territories
• it shall be prohibited to sell, supply, transfer, or export the specified goods and technology  to any natural or legal person, entity or body in the specified territories, or for use in the specified territories
• it shall be prohibited to provide technical assistance, or brokering, construction or engineering services directly relating to infrastructure in the specified territories, in the telecommunications, transport, energy and oil production sectors, defined on the basis of the specified goods and technologies. This prohibition is independent of the origin of the goods and technology

The Regulation includes provisions for a number of partial and temporary exemptions, for example, medical applications, education establishments and for contracts concluded prior to the sanctions coming into effect.

The Department of Enterprise has advised that exporters should be aware that existing sanctions, which includes restrictions on exports of ‘Dual-use’ items and goods for use in oil exploration and production, pursuant to Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 of 31 July 2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia's actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, remain fully in effect.