(1)

Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 (2) gives effect to certain measures provided for in Decision 2014/145/CFSP and provides for the freezing of funds and economic resources of certain natural persons responsible for, actively supporting or implementing, actions or policies which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, or stability or security in Ukraine, or which obstruct the work of international organisations in Ukraine, and of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies associated with them, or legal persons, entities or bodies in Crimea or Sevastopol whose ownership has been transferred contrary to Ukrainian law, or legal persons, entities or bodies which have benefited from such a transfer.

(2)

On 16 July 2014, the European Council agreed to expand restrictive measures, with a view to targeting entities, including from the Russian Federation, that are materially or financially supporting actions undermining or threatening Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.

(3)

On 18 July 2014, the Council adopted Decision 2014/475/CFSP (3) which amends Decision 2014/145/CFSP and provides for amended listing criteria to allow for the listing of legal persons, entities or bodies that are materially or financially supporting actions undermining or threatening Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.

(4)

This amendment falls within the scope of the Treaty and, therefore, in particular with a view to ensuring their uniform application in all Member States, regulatory action at the level of the Union is necessary in order to implement them.

(5)

In order to ensure that the measures provided for in this Regulation are effective, it should enter into force immediately,