EU plans new restrictive measures on Belarus
As regards the ongoing conflict on the Poland-Belarus border and other related matters, the EU Council is preparing to increase the pressure on the regime in Minsk by supplementing its sanctions regime with new measures to respond to ‘hybrid attacks’ and the displacement of persons instigated by Belarus.
The EU sanctions regime on Belarus was of course recently broadened to include high-profile Belarussian business-people perceived to be close to the Lukashenko regime. The EU will now be able to additionally target individuals and entities organising or contributing to activities by the regime that facilitates illegal crossing of the EU's external borders.
In addition, on 10 November 2021, a declaration was made by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy stating that the EU will continue to counter the state-sponsored illegal migration, including smuggling of migrants, organised by the Belarusian regime, including by expanding their sanctions regime so the EU can target those involved in and contributing to activities. New sanction designations are expected in the coming days.
EU’s press release can be found here.
Declaration by the High Representative can be found here.
