18th sanctions package: Significant expansion of EU embargo provisions against Russia/Belarus
On 24 February 2025, the EU adopted the 16th sanctions package against Russia. On the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU is thus maintaining its sanctions policy with the aim of further increasing pressure on Russia. The new EU sanctions package contains a large number of tightening measures concerning Regulation (EU) 269/2014 and Regulation (EU) 833/2014 against Russia.
16. Sanctions package: Tightening of EU measures against Russia/Belarus
On 24 February 2025, the EU adopted the 16th sanctions package against Russia. On the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU is thus maintaining its sanctions policy with the aim of further increasing pressure on Russia. The new EU sanctions package contains a large number of tightening measures concerning Regulation (EU) 269/2014 and Regulation (EU) 833/2014 against Russia.
EUDR / LkSG / CSDDD – Overview and current developments
The regulation of due diligence obligations along global supply chains and the associated requirements for companies have developed continuously in recent years. Three central legal acts are in particular focus: the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
Upcoming tightening of foreign trade offences and administrative offences
As part of the implementation of Directive (EU) 2024/1226 on the harmonization of criminal law on penalties (EU Directive on Criminal Sanctions), significant amendments and additions to Sections 18 and 19 of the German Foreign Trade and Payments Act (AWG) will soon be made and will lead to tighter sanctions for offences and administrative offences …
EU sanctions Russia/Belarus: Measures against circumvention mandatory for CHP items
Already in June this year, the European Union introduced an obligation for EU economic operators to take further measures to avoid the circumvention of export controls and sanctions against Russia and Belarus in connection with so-called Common High Priority Items (“CHP items”).
EU sanctions Russia/Belarus: EU Commission publishes FAQs on the best-efforts obligation
Long expected, the EU Commission published explanations on the so-called best-efforts obligation in Article 8a of Regulation (EU) 833/2014 at the end of November and supplemented its FAQs on the EU sanctions against Russia accordingly. The aim is to provide the affected EU …