On Dec. 18, 2023, The European Union Council has adopted a 12th package of sanctions against Russia.

The package focuses on a Russian-origin diamond import ban as well as imposing additional import and export bans on Russia, aimed at preventing sanctions circumvention.

Other focus points include:

• The European Union (EU) is imposing a prohibition on the direct or indirect import, purchase, or transfer of diamonds from Russia.
• Additional import and export controls and restrictions with the list expanded beyond dual-use goods to deal with items that could contribute to the technological enhancement of Russia’s defense and security sector such as: chemicals, lithium batteries, thermostats, DC motors and servomotors for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), machine tools and machinery parts.
• The transit ban that currently applies to dual-use goods and technologies exported from the EU to third countries via the territory of Russia will be extended to all battlefield materiel.
• The Council is introducing tighter compliance rules to support the implementation of the oil price cap and clamp down on circumvention.
• Iron and Steel update: the EU adds Switzerland and Norway to a list of partner countries which apply a set of restrictive measures on imports of iron and steel from Russia, and a set of import control measures that are substantially equivalent to those of the EU.
• The Council intends to list a significant amount of additional individuals and entities.

You can find the press release via the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_6566