The European Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2040 imposing further restrictive measures in response to Belarus’s involvement in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The package expands export restrictions on goods that could support Belarus’s military, technological and defence capabilities and adds new limits on financial-sector software and services, including tighter controls affecting crypto-asset, payment and electronic money services. The measures broaden the lists of restricted items and goods that may contribute to Belarusian military and technological enhancement or industrial capacity growth. They further restrict the provision to Belarusian state bodies and related persons of software with certain banking and financial-sector uses and services that enhance Belarus’s technological capacities, and introduce a requirement for prior authorisation by the competent authority for services provided to Belarusian public-sector counterparties that are not already covered by Decision 2012/642/CFSP. The Decision also restricts the provision of crypto-asset services, certain payment services, and the issuing of electronic money to Belarusian nationals, persons residing in Belarus, and entities established in Belarus, while adding exemptions for humanitarian purposes, specified categories of essential goods, access to proceedings in a Member State, and recognition or enforcement of judgments or arbitral awards. In addition, the prohibition on purchasing, importing or transferring certain items intended to curb Belarus’s revenue diversification was extended to all acyclic hydrocarbons. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, and Ukraine aligned themselves with the Decision and committed to bringing national policies into conformity.
European Council 2025-10-23
European Council tightens Belarus sanctions with expanded export controls and new restrictions on crypto-asset and payment services
The European Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2025/2040, imposing further sanctions on Belarus for its role in Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The measures expand export restrictions on goods supporting Belarus's military and technological capabilities and tighten controls on financial-sector software and services, including crypto-assets and electronic money. The Decision also extends prohibitions on certain imports and aligns with several European countries, including Albania and Norway.