21 Jun 2021 15:05

Council of European Union renews sanctions over Crimea's reunification with Russia for another year

BRUSSELS. June 21 (Interfax) - The Council of the European Union decided on Monday to renew for another year the so-called Crimean sanctions imposed on Russia following its reunification with Crimea.

"The Council today decided to renew sanctions introduced in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation for a further year until 23 June 2022," the Council said in a communique.

The restrictive measures include target EU imports of products originating in Crimea or Sevastopol and infrastructural or financial investments and tourism services in Crimea or Sevastopol. Exports of certain goods and technologies to Crimean companies or for use in Crimea in the transport, telecommunications, and energy sectors or for the prospection, exploration, and production of oil, gas, and mineral resources are also subject to EU restrictions, it said.

The EU does not recognize Crimea and Sevastopol as parts of the Russian Federation, the communique said.

The sanctions were first introduced in June 2014 in response to "the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation." The measures, which are limited to the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol, apply to EU individuals and companies.

Brussels said that the EU would never recognize Crimea's reunification with Russia.