(1)

On 15 October 2012, the Council adopted Decision 2012/642/CFSP (1).

(2)

On 24 February 2022, the President of the Russian Federation announced a military operation in Ukraine and Russian armed forces began an attack on Ukraine, including from the territory of Belarus. That attack was a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

(3)

In its conclusions of 19 February 2024, the Council strongly condemned the continued support provided by the Belarusian regime to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and called on Belarus to refrain from such action and to abide by its international obligations.

(4)

In view of the gravity of the situation, and in response to Belarus’s continued involvement in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, it is appropriate to introduce additional restrictive measures.

(5)

In particular, it is appropriate to expand the list of items which might contribute to Belarus’s military and technological enhancement or to the development of its defence and security sector, by listing items which have been used by Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine and items which contribute to the development or production of Belarus’s military systems, including: nickel powders, nickel metal and alloys of nickel used in corrosion-resistant coatings in jet engines; beryllium powders used in propellants and in high-performance alloys; self-adhesive films, tapes and strips used in the aerospace and defence sectors; aviation items specific to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as ground support equipment, jamming/interception systems, launch systems, and servomotors; as well as flight termination systems for UAVs or missiles.

(6)

It is also appropriate to amend the derogations in order to ensure the continued provision of goods and services required to uphold internet infrastructure in Belarus for the general public.

(7)

Additionally, it is appropriate to introduce further restrictions on imports of goods which allow Belarus to diversify its sources of revenue, thereby enabling its involvement in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including restrictions on copper ores, nickel ores, lead ores, precious-metals ores, unwrought zinc, alkaline-earth metals, certain inorganic chemicals (zinc oxides and chromium oxides), tall oil, glassware and car parts.

(8)

It is also appropriate to extend the prohibition for Belarusian nationals or natural persons residing in Belarus to own or control, or to hold any posts in the governing bodies of, certain legal persons, entities or bodies which are incorporated or constituted under the law of a Member State, so that the prohibition applies to any entity which is providing crypto-asset services, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2).

(9)

Decision 2012/642/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly,

(1)

Article 1b is amended as follows:

(2)

in Article 2c(4), point (e) is replaced by the following:

;

(3)

in Article 2d(4), point (e) is replaced by the following:

;

(4)

Article 2ra is amended as follows:

(5)

in Article 2s, paragraph 3aa is replaced by the following:

(6)

in Article 2u, paragraph 1b is replaced by the following:

(7)

in Article 2w, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: