Restrictive measures against Belarus

23 July 2026

Further restrictive measures against Belarus were adopted through Regulation (EU) 2026/1846 amending Regulation (EC) No 765/2006:

The list of goods and technologies capable of contributing to Belarus’s military and technological enhancement has been expanded to include nickel powders, nickel and nickel alloys, beryllium powders, specialised self-adhesive films, and other materials used in the aviation and defence industries.
New restrictions have been introduced on products related to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including ground-support equipment, jamming/interception systems, launch systems, servomotors, and UAV and missile flight-termination systems.
The list of goods subject to import or trade restrictions has been expanded to include certain ores (copper, nickel, lead, precious metals), zinc, inorganic chemicals, glass products, and automotive parts.
In the area of corporate governance, restrictions on Belarusian nationals and residents are extended to crypto-asset service providers, where they may not hold certain management or supervisory positions.
The package further strengthens anti-circumvention measures, expands possibilities for compensation claims, and adds four new entities to the list of entities subject to enhanced export-control measures for dual-use and military-sensitive goods.

Pursuant to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1817, two legal entities from the Belarusian oil sector were added to the asset-freeze list.

23 April 2026

Further restrictive measures against Belarus were adopted through Regulation (EU) 2026/513 amending Regulation (EC) No 765/2006:

The list of goods and technologies subject to export restrictions has been expanded to include laboratory equipment, high-performance lubricants, and other products used in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Additional restrictions have been imposed on industrial goods, including certain chemicals, rubber products, steel, metalworking tools, and industrial tractors, in order to limit Belarusian industrial capacity.
The ban on the transit of certain goods through Belarusian territory has been expanded, and a new import ban has been introduced on selected raw materials, metals, minerals, steel scrap, chemicals, and other products generating revenue for the Belarusian regime.
New restrictions have been introduced on the provision of services, particularly managed cybersecurity services and services directly related to tourism activities in Belarus (travel agencies, tour operators, tourist guides, and related advertising).
New financial and digital measures have been adopted, including a ban on transactions related to the planned Belarusian digital rouble, a prohibition on transactions involving Belarusian crypto-asset service providers, and strengthened anti-circumvention and compensation-claim provisions.

Pursuant to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/505, three new entities were added to the asset-freeze list.

15 December 2025

Further restrictive measures against Belarus were adopted through Regulation (EU) 2025/2601 amending Regulation (EC) No 765/2006:

New listing criteria for sanctions were introduced for individuals and organisations carrying out hybrid attacks against the EU.
Sanctions may be applied to persons undermining democracy, the rule of law, and the security of Member States.
The measure was adopted primarily in response to activities linked by the EU to organised provocations and security incidents at the EU’s external borders.

23 October 2025

Further restrictive measures against Belarus were adopted through Regulation (EU) 2025/2041 amending Regulation (EC) No 765/2006:

The list of goods and technologies capable of contributing to Belarus’s military and technological enhancement has been expanded, notably through the inclusion of additional electronic components, rangefinders, propellant chemicals, metals, oxides, and alloys used in military-system production.
The list of products subject to export restrictions designed to limit Belarusian industrial capabilities has been extended to include salts, ores, rubber products, pipes, tyres, grinding stones, and construction materials.
Additional restrictions were introduced on the supply of software for the banking and financial sector intended for Belarus, its authorities, or related entities.
Certain advanced technology services, including commercial space services, artificial intelligence services, and high-performance and quantum-computing services, are now prohibited or further restricted.
The package further aligns the Belarus sanctions regime with the measures against Russia and strengthens efforts to prevent Belarus’s military and technology sectors from accessing goods, services, and technologies that could support Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2039, five new entities associated with the Belarusian military-industrial complex and the Lukashenko regime were designated.

18 July 2025

Further restrictive measures against Belarus were adopted through Regulation (EU) 2025/1472 amending Regulation (EC) No 765/2006, which:

Introduces a ban on the import, purchase, and transfer of arms and other military goods from Belarus into the EU.
Expands the list of military, industrial, and technological goods subject to export restrictions, including CNC equipment, machine spare parts, chemical precursors, and other products that may contribute to Belarus’s military capabilities.
Strengthens measures against sanctions circumvention through third countries by introducing a prior-authorisation mechanism for exports where there is suspicion that the actual end user or final destination is Belarus.
Extends restrictions in the area of financial services, particularly regarding transactions with certain Belarusian banks and financial institutions, while maintaining specific exemptions for diplomatic missions and divestment procedures.
Further strengthens the sanctions framework through measures against attempts to challenge sanctions before arbitration tribunals and extends transit bans and export restrictions on goods capable of enhancing Belarusian industrial and military capabilities.
Pursuant to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1469, eight Belarusian companies from the military-industrial complex were added to the asset-freeze list.

24 February 2025

Further restrictive measures against Belarus were adopted through Regulation (EU) 2025/392 amending Regulation (EC) No 765/2006:

Export bans were expanded to cover goods and technologies that could contribute to Belarus’s military, technological, and industrial capabilities, including certain chemicals, CNC machine software, drone components, and other strategic goods.
Additional import restrictions were introduced, particularly on primary aluminium, in order to reduce revenues available to the Belarusian regime and its support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
The supply and licensing of specific software (for enterprise management, industrial design and manufacturing, and oil and gas exploration) to Belarusian entities was prohibited.
Financial sanctions were strengthened by extending the deposit prohibition to additional entities owned by Belarusian nationals and introducing a ban on wallet, account, and custody services relating to crypto-assets for Belarusian persons.
A new criterion for sanctions listing was introduced for persons and entities forming part of, or materially or financially supporting, the Belarusian military-industrial complex, while measures against sanctions circumvention (including transit of goods and road transport) were further expanded.

29 June 2024

Further restrictive measures against Belarus were adopted by Regulation 2024/1865 amending Regulation 765/2006:

The provision of certain services to the Republic of Belarus, its Government, its public bodies, corporations or agencies, or any natural or legal person, entity or body acting on their behalf or at their direction, namely accounting services, auditing services, including statutory audits, bookkeeping services, tax consultancy, business and corporate consultancy and public relations services, shall be prohibited.
The provision of architectural, engineering, IT and legal consultancy services to Belarus shall be prohibited.
Additional restrictions related to export/import/transport of goods (dual-use goods, diamonds, luxury goods, etc.).
The non-circumvention provision is amended to clarify that the elements of knowledge and intent are met not only where a person intentionally seeks to achieve the object or effect of circumventing restrictive measures, but also where a person who engages in an activity the object or effect of which is to circumvent restrictive measures is aware that such engagement may have such object or effect and consents to that possibility.

3 August 2023

Further restrictive measures against Belarus were adopted by Regulation 2022/1594 amending Regulation 765/2006.

closer coordination of Russian and Belarusian sanctions to ensure that Russian sanctions cannot be circumvented through Belarus;
extending the export ban to Belarus to a number of highly sensitive products and technologies that contribute to the military and technological strengthening of Belarus.

3 June 2022

Further restrictive measures against Belarus were adopted by Regulation 2022/877 amending Regulation 765/2006.

1 additional Belarusian bank has been removed from SWIFT.
The list of Belarusian entities subject to restrictions has been significantly widened (from 1 entity to 25). This is related to authorisations for the sale, supply, transfer or export of dual-use goods and technology, as well as goods and technology which might contribute to Belarus's military and technological enhancement, or to the development of its defence and security sector.

8 April 2022

Further restrictive measures against Belarus were adopted by Regulation 2022/577 amending Regulation 765/2006:

Prohibition on the sell, supply, transfer or export banknotes denominated in any official currency of a Member State to Belarus or to any natural or legal person, entity or body in Belarus, including the Government and the Central Bank of Belarus, or for use in Belarus; Art. 1za.
Prohibition to sell transferable securities denominated in any currency of an EU Member State issued after 12 April 2022, or units in collective investment undertakings providing exposure to such securities, to any Belarusian national or natural person resident in Belarus or to any legal person, entity or body established in Belarus; Art. 1y.
Road transport to Belarusian companies is prohibited, preventing them from transporting goods by road to the EU, including in transit. However, derogations are granted for a number of products such as pharmaceutical, medical, agricultural and food products, including wheat, and for road transport for humanitarian purposes; Art. 1zc.

9 March 2022

Regulation 2022/398 amending Regulation 765/2006 extended the extensive financial restrictive measures against Russia by analogy to Belarus. The following changes should be highlighted in particular:

The definition of "transferable security" has been amended to include cryptocurrencies; Article 1 (9).
Transactions related to the management of the reserves and assets of the Central Bank of Belarus are prohibited, including transactions with any legal person, entity or body acting on behalf of or at the direction of the Central Bank of Belarus (Article 1ja).
As from 12 April 2022, it is prohibited to list shares, as well as to provide services in relation thereto, on trading venues registered or recognised in the Union for transferable securities of any legal person, entity or body established in Belarus which is more than 50 % publicly owned; Art. 1jb.
It is prohibited to sell transferable securities denominated in euro issued after 12 April 2022, or units in collective investment undertakings providing exposure to such securities, to any Belarusian citizen or natural person resident in Belarus or to any legal person, entity or body established in Belarus; Art. 1jy.
Provision of public financing or public financial assistance for trade with or investment in Belarus is prohibited; Art. 1t), but with certain exceptions (binding financial commitments or financial assistance commitments entered into before 10 March 2022; provision of public financing or public financial assistance up to a total value of EUR 10,000,000 per project for the benefit of small and medium-sized enterprises established in the Union; provision of public financing or public financial assistance for trade in foodstuffs and for agricultural, medical or humanitarian purposes).
Exclusion of three Belarusian banks from the SWIFT system: Belagroprombank, Bank Dabrabyt and Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus; Art. 1zb
EU banks are not allowed to accept deposits from Belarusian citizens or natural persons residing in Belarus or entities established in Belarus if the total value of the credit balance per credit institution exceeds EUR 100,000.00; Art. 1u (1). This is accompanied by a reporting obligation on existing deposits above this amount; Art. 1z. Exemption applies to nationals of a Member State, a Member State of the European Economic Area or Switzerland, or to natural persons holding a temporary or permanent residence permit in a Member State, a Member State of the European Economic Area or Switzerland; Art. 1u (2). The prohibition shall also not apply to deposits which are necessary for the purpose of unannounced cross-border trade in goods and services between the Union and Belarus; Art. 1u (3).

Questions with regard to sanctions can be sent by email to [email protected].