Sanctions European Union to Belarus

Main Sanctions

Individual and economic sanctions

Thus, the Council of the European Union has imposed restrictive measures on 22 high-ranking Belarusian military personnel, because of their role in the decision-making and strategic planning processes that led to Belarus’ involvement in this conflict. This same list previously included 20 Belarusian military personnel.

These people have therefore had their assets frozen in the European Union and are banned from transiting or entering EU territory.

Regarding the economy, restrictions were also introduced in the trade of goods used for the production or manufacture of:

1. Tobacco
2. Mineral fuels
3. Bituminous substances and hydrocarbon gas derivatives
4. Wood
5. Cement
6. Steel
7. Rubber

In addition, limitations have been imposed on exports of dual-use or advanced goods and technologies that can contribute to the military, technological, defense and security development of Belarus.

In the financial sector, three of the largest Belarusian banks have been excluded from the SWIFT system – elagroprombank, Bank Dabrabyt, and the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus – and bans have been imposed on transactions between the Central Bank of Belarus and the European Union and limits have been placed on Belarusian deposits in the EU that cannot exceed 100,000 euros.

The European Union has also suspended cross-border and transnational cooperation with Belarus as it did with Russia, and a possible suspension of cooperation in the field of research, science and innovation is still under consideration.

In addition to the European Union, several countries have joined the new sanctions, including North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Sanctions pre Russia-Ukraine conflict

Prior to the outbreak of this conflict, the European Union had already been imposing a set of restrictive measures against Belarus since October 2020, following the presidential elections in the summer of 2020. Its results were not recognized by the EU as there were acts of violence by Belarusian authorities against peaceful demonstrators.

In the last quarter of 2020, sanctions were imposed against a broad group of people, including the president, Alexandr Lukashenko and his son, central government figures, several judges or the president of the Public Television and Radio Company.

As early as 2021, due to the continuing repression in Belarus, the EU imposed a ban on Belarusian air carriers flying over EU airspace and accessing EU airports.

A total of 183 persons and 26 entities are currently designated under the sanctions regime against Belarus.

In addition, the European Union and Belarus signed an Agreement on visa facilitation that entered into force on 1 July 2020, simultaneously with an Agreement on readmission of persons residing without authorization. It was aimed at facilitating, on the basis of reciprocity, the issuance of visas for intended stays not exceeding 90 days per period of 180 days for Union citizens and Belarusian nationals. The facilitation agreement was intended to contribute to the strengthening of people-to-people contacts and the sharing of values, including respect for human rights and democratic principles.

On 28 June 2021, the Belarusian authorities took a unilateral decision to suspend the readmission agreement, and a law with the same goal was adopted by its parliament on 4 October of the same year.

Due to the rapidly deteriorating relations between the two parties, the Council of the European Union adopted on 9 November 2021 a decision partially suspending the application of certain provisions of the Visa Facilitation Agreement. This suspension is aimed at certain categories of applicants, namely members of official Belarusian delegations, members of the national and regional governments and parliaments of Belarus, as well as members of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Belarus in the exercise of their duties.

According to the Council, this decision does not affect ordinary Belarusian citizens, who would continue to enjoy the same benefits under the Agreement as they did prior to the partial suspension.

Impact in Portugal

Despite not having the same weight as the Russian market, Belarus carries out a relevant set of trade exchanges with our country.

In 2020, for example, exports to Belarus reached the value of 13.1 million euros, while imports totaled 3.8 million euros, according to data from the Ministry of Economy and Digital Transition.

It is foreseeable that the paper, mechanical, cork or beverage industries may be the most affected in Portugal with these sanctions, since they represent the largest share of exports recorded in 2020.

Regarding the imports sector, the impact can be bigger in the purchase of chemical products, scientific equipment, iron and steel.