COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2022/882

of 3 June 2022

amending Decision 2012/642/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and in particular Article 29 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1) On 15 October 2012, the Council adopted Decision 2012/642/CFSP (1) concerning restrictive measures against Belarus.

(2) On 24 February 2022, the President of the Russian Federation announced a military operation in Ukraine, and Russian armed forces began an attack on Ukraine, including from the territory of Belarus. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

(3) On 2 March 2022, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2022/356 (2), which amended the title of Decision 2012/642/CFSP and introduced further restrictive measures in response to the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

(4) In its conclusions of 24 March 2022, the European Council stated that the Union remains ready to move quickly with further coordinated robust sanctions on Russia and Belarus to effectively thwart Russian abilities to continue the war of aggression.

(5) In view of the gravity of the situation, it is appropriate to expand the list of Belarusian credit institutions and their Belarusian subsidiaries subject to restrictive measures with regard to the provision of specialised financial messaging services. It is also appropriate to expand the list of entities subject to restrictions with regard to authorisations for the sale, supply, transfer or export of dual-use goods and technology, and goods and technology which might contribute to Belarus’s military and technological enhancement, or to the development of its defence and security sector.

(6) Decision 2012/642/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 Decision 2012/642/CFSP is amended as follows: (1) Article 2y is replaced by the following: ‘Article 2y 1. It shall be prohibited to provide specialised financial messaging services, which are used to exchange financial data, to the legal persons, entities or bodies listed in Annex V or to any legal person, entity or body established in Belarus whose proprietary rights are directly or indirectly owned for more than 50 % by an entity listed in Annex V. 2. For each legal person, entity or body referred to in Annex V, the prohibition set out in paragraph 1 shall apply as of the date mentioned for it in that Annex. The prohibition shall apply as of that same date to any legal person, entity or body established in Belarus whose proprietary rights are directly or indirectly owned for more than 50 % by an entity listed in Annex V.’; (2) Annexes II and V to Decision 2012/642/CFSP are amended as set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 3 June 2022. For the Council The President C. COLONNA

(1) Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP of 15 October 2012 concerning restrictive measures against Belarus (OJ L 285, 17.10.2012, p. 1). Now entitled Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP of 15 October 2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

(2) Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/356 of 2 March 2022 amending Decision 2012/642/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus (OJ L 67, 2.3.2022, p. 103).