Council Regulation (EU) 2022/877 of 3 June 2022 amending Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 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 the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 215 thereof,

Having regard to 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 (1),

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

Whereas:

(1) On 18 May 2006, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 (2).

(2) Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 gives effect to the measures provided for in Decision 2012/642/CFSP.

(3) Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/882 (3) expands the scope of the sanctions to further implement the conclusions of the European Council of 24 March 2022 following the involvement of Belarus in the unacceptable and illegal Russian military aggression against Ukraine, which under international law qualifies as an act of aggression.

(4) In view of the gravity of the situation, it is necessary to take additional measures. Consequently, Decision (CFSP) 2022/882 expanded 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. Decision (CFSP) 2022/882 also expands the list of Belarusian credit institutions and their Belarusian subsidiaries subject to restrictive measures with regard to the provision of specialised financial messaging services.

(5) Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 is amended as follows:

(1) Article 1zb is replaced by the following: ‘Article 1zb

(2) in Article 9, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: ‘1.   Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties, including as appropriate criminal penalties, applicable to infringements of the provisions of this Regulation and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Member States shall also provide for appropriate measures of confiscation of the proceeds of such infringements.’;

(3) Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 is replaced by the text set out in Annex I to this Regulation;

(4) Annex XV to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 is replaced by the text set out in Annex II to this Regulation.

Article 2

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

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 3 June 2022.

For the Council The President C. COLONNA

(1) OJ L 285, 17.10.2012, p. 1.

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 of 18 May 2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine (OJ L 134, 20.5.2006, p. 1).

(3) 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 (OJ L 153, 3.6.2022).