This means that new products will be added to the list that may no longer be exported to Russia, and according to De Vries, there are 72 new people and entities on the blacklist. “Furthermore, it must now become possible for the first time to take action against the avoidance of sanctions,” says De Vries. “Because hundreds of breaches are discovered every month.”
“Hundreds of breaches are detected every month”
With the announcement, the European Commission hopes to deter enough “bypassers”. “And ultimately it must be possible to address those companies and countries,” says De Vries.
Deviation
The new sanctions ensure that the European Commission can stop the export of certain goods to a particular country if that country subsequently imports the goods via Russia. “But that first has to be found out,” says sanctions attorney Helene of de Linden. “And this is difficult. We’ve always had the story of ‘circumvention is not allowed’ and ‘we need to know the end user’, but if we find out, the Commission gets it.’
However, the European Commission wants to list specific companies and countries, including some Chinese companies. “That makes dealing with them a little easier,” she continues. “They will then be subject to a ban. So it actually works exactly like with the Russian sanctions list.’
Sanctions
It refers to a trade ban with collaborating countries and companies, as well as an asset freeze and a ban on entry into the European Union. “With the new sanctions package, enforcement should become easier,” says Over de Linden. “And it turns out that the companies that have entered the list have been very cooperative in evading it lately.”
Over de Linden points out that it’s difficult to address all countries or companies that collaborate, “because they always put 35 companies in the middle,” but the more companies, countries and people on the list, the easier it all gets. “We have already developed structures in the European Union with banks that have to do a lot of ‘know your customers’,” she concludes. “So as soon as a payment goes in or out, banks know which countries or companies are on the sanctions list and take action.”