EU extends sanctions against Crimea for one year

The European Union (EU) on Friday announced to extend the restrictive measures concerning Crimea and Sevastopol until June 23, 2017.

According to a statement issued by the Council of the EU, the restrictive measures apply to EU persons and EU based companies. They include prohibitions on imports of products originating in Crimea or Sevastopol into the EU.

The restrictive measures prohibit investment in Crimea or Sevastopol, meaning that no Europeans nor EU-based companies can buy real estate or entities in Crimea, finance Crimean companies or supply related services.

Moreover, the restrictive measures prohibit tourism services in Crimea or Sevastopol, in particular, European cruise ships cannot call at ports in the Crimean peninsula, except in case of emergency.

The measures also prohibit exports of certain goods and technologies to Crimean companies or for use in Crimea in the transport, telecommunications and energy sectors and related to the prospection, exploration and production of oil, gas and mineral resources. Technical assistance, brokering, construction or engineering services related to infrastructure in these sectors must not be provided either.

The statement said that "the EU continues to condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation and remains committed to fully implement its non-recognition policy."

The autonomous republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol were absorbed into Russia in March 2014 following a referendum, which was recognized by Moscow but rejected by Ukraine and Western powers. Endit