Uniform sanctions implementation at the core of the 2nd Border States’ meeting in Vilnius

Border States met in Vilnius to discuss EU sanctions circumvention, especially trade routes and patters, and agreed on concrete common measures to further strengthen implementation of sanctions and prevention of sanctions circumvention.

On 23 October the second Border States’ meeting took place in Vilnius. The meeting was attended by the officials from Estonian, Finnish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian and Polish (hereinafter – Border States) Ministries’ of Foreign Affairs and Customs authorities, as well as the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

The meeting discussed trade routes and patterns, which are used to circumvent sanctions, the need to proactively exchange information and raise awareness between public and private sectors, further increase pressure on Russia and its allies – Belarus and Iran – as well as developing coordinated regional actions targeted at eliminating any remaining discrepancies in the enforcement and implementation efforts that undermine the effectiveness of sanctions. 

As a result, participants agreed to take concrete measures targeted at strengthening uniform sanctions implementation, which should be a top priority in order to implement sanctions fully and effectively and disrupt Russia’s abilities to continue its war of aggression against Ukraine. Accordingly, Border States will continue working towards strengthening the uniform application of customs controls, harmonising the granting of authorisations and increase regular exchanges of information and best practices. 

The first meeting(Link to another website.) of Border States took place in Helsinki in May.

Vilnius, 23 October

Finland
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Norway
Poland