EU imposes new sanctions on Belarus

The European Union has imposed new sanctions on Belarus in response to the deteriorating internal situation in Belarus and to the country’s involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The EU Member States approved further sanctions against Belarus on 3 August 2023.

The decision harmonises the EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus to prevent circumvention of sanctions against Russia. The EU also imposed sanctions on additional individuals and entities.

The EU decided to prohibit the sale, supply, transfer or export of firearms to Belarus. It imposed further export restrictions on dual-use goods and technology, including semiconductor devices, electronic integrated circuits and optical components.

The EU also extended the export ban on aviation and the space industry to include aircraft engines and their parts, among other goods and technology.

The EU imposed sanctions on Belarus for the first time in 2004. The sanctions list includes both individuals and entities. Other EU restrictions in force against Belarus include the ban on arms exports, the ban on Belarusian air carriers from landing in, taking off from or overflying the territory of the EU and the sectoral sanctions imposed in March 2022.