(1)

On 31 July 2014, the Council adopted Decision 2014/512/CFSP (1).

(2)

The Union remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

(3)

On 24 February 2022, the President of the Russian Federation announced a military operation in Ukraine, and Russia’s armed forces began an unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine. That illegal war of aggression is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, as well as a violation of the prohibition on the use of force enshrined in Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations (UN), which is a fundamental rule of international law, and of the other principles of the Charter of the UN (UN Charter).

(4)

In its Resolution ES-11/1, adopted on 2 March 2022, the UN General Assembly deplored in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter. In its Resolution ES-11/4, adopted on 12 October 2022, the UN General Assembly, noting the UN Secretary-General’s statement of 29 September 2022 in which he recalled that any annexation of a State’s territory by another State resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the principles of the UN Charter and international law, condemned the organisation by the Russian Federation of illegal so-called referenda in regions within the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine and the attempted illegal annexation of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, following the organisation of those so-called referenda.

(5)

In its Resolution A/RES/ES-11/5 of 15 November 2022, the UN General Assembly expressed grave concern at the loss of life, civilian displacement, destruction of infrastructure and natural resources, loss of public and private property, and economic calamity caused by the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, and recognised that the Russian Federation must be held to account for any violations of international law in or against Ukraine, including its aggression in violation of the UN Charter, as well as any violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and that it must bear the legal consequences of all of its internationally wrongful acts, including making reparation for the injury, including any damage, caused by such acts.

(6)

In its Resolution A/ES-11/L.7 of 23 February 2023, the UN General Assembly also called for full adherence by the parties to the armed conflict to their obligations under international humanitarian law, and for an immediate cessation of the attacks on the critical infrastructure of Ukraine and any deliberate attacks on civilian objects, including those that are residences, schools and hospitals.

(7)

On 28 February 2022, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2022/335 (2) amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP, which prohibited any transactions related to the management of reserves, as well as of assets of the Central Bank of Russia, including transactions with any legal person, entity or body acting on behalf of, or at the direction of, the Central Bank of Russia. On 9 March 2022, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2022/395 (3) to include such prohibition concerning the Russian National Wealth Fund. As a result of those prohibitions, the relevant assets held by financial institutions in the Member States are ‘immobilised’.

(8)

As underlined in the conclusions of the European Council meeting on 26 and 27 October 2023, decisive progress is needed, in coordination with partners, on how any extraordinary revenues held by private entities stemming directly from Russia’s immobilised assets could be directed to support Ukraine and its recovery and reconstruction, consistent with applicable contractual obligations, and in accordance with Union and international law. In its conclusions, the European Council called on the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the High Representative) and the Commission to accelerate work with a view to submitting proposals.

(9)

In its conclusions of 14 and 15 December 2023, the European Council reiterated its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter, and reaffirmed the Union’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and its inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression.

(10)

In its conclusions of 1 February 2024, a special meeting of the European Council underlined the need to ensure, together with partners, stable, predictable and sustainable financial support for Ukraine for the period 2024-2027, and concluded that a Ukraine Facility for the period 2024-2027 is to be set up. Regulation (EU) 2024/792 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) establishing the Ukraine Facility was adopted on 29 February 2024. On 5 March 2024, the Commission proposed a Regulation establishing a European Defence Industry Programme (‘EDIP’) and a framework of measures to ensure the timely availability and supply of defence products (5). EDIP should be set up for the period 2025-2027, and includes a cooperation programme (the ‘Ukraine Support Instrument’) aiming at contributing to the recovery, reconstruction and modernisation of the Ukrainian defence technological and industrial base.

(11)

In its conclusions of 22 March 2024, the European Council stated that given the urgency of the situation, the European Union is determined to continue providing Ukraine and its people all the necessary political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed.

(12)

On 12 February 2024, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2024/577 (6), amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP to provide certain clarifications regarding the prohibition of any transaction related to the management of reserves and assets of the Central Bank of Russia, as well as to introduce further measures.

(13)

Decision (CFSP) 2024/577 clarified that balance sheet management transactions linked to assets and reserves of the Central Bank of Russia, or linked to assets and reserves of any legal person, entity or body acting on behalf of, or at the direction of, the Central Bank of Russia, such as the Russian National Wealth Fund, are not within the scope of the prohibition of transactions which applies since 28 February 2022. The balance sheet management transactions that remain authorised relate in particular to the reinvestment of cash balances, accumulating due to immobilised coupon or dividend and redemption payments and maturing deposits, in line with a prudent investment policy, in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

(14)

Other transactions, in particular any direct or indirect transfer to or for the benefit of the Central Bank of Russia, or to or for the benefit of any legal person, entity or body acting on behalf of, or at the direction of, the Central Bank of Russia, such as the Russian National Wealth Fund, remain prohibited.

(15)

The prohibition of such other transactions generates an extraordinary and unexpected accumulation of cash balances on the balance sheets of central securities depositories within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 909/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (7) that occupy a key position in the settlement and the central maintenance of financial instruments in the Union. That accumulation is due to the immobilisation of assets and reserves of the Central Bank of Russia, or those of any legal person, entity or body acting on behalf of, or at the direction of, the Central Bank of Russia, such as the Russian National Wealth Fund, because any payments of principal and interest, coupons, dividends or other income on securities to the Central Bank of Russia and those persons, entities and bodies are prohibited.

(16)

Central securities depositories are in a specific situation, which is different from that of other financial institutions because cash balances of or with customers of central securities depositories are usually transferred out of the central securities depositories before the end of the day and do not yield any remuneration for the customers. The cash balances held by central securities depositories in relation to the assets of the Central Bank of Russia, or those of any legal person, entity or body acting on behalf of, or at the direction of, the Central Bank of Russia, such as the Russian National Wealth Fund, accumulating due to restrictive measures, subsequently need to be prudently managed by the central securities depositories. This results in the generation of unexpected and extraordinary revenues.

(17)

Unexpected and extraordinary revenues do not have to be made available to the Central Bank of Russia under applicable rules, even after the discontinuation of the transaction prohibition. Thus, they do not constitute sovereign assets. Therefore, the rules protecting sovereign assets are not applicable to these revenues.

(18)

Moreover, since those unexpected and extraordinary revenues result necessarily from the implementation of the restrictive measures, in particular the prohibition laid down in Article 1a(4) of Decision 2014/512/CFSP and Article 5a(4) of Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 (8), central securities depositories cannot expect to gain an undue and unintended economic benefit from them. Based on the legitimate aim of pursuing the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, in particular the consolidation of, and support for, democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the principles of international law, including international humanitarian law, the preservation of peace, the prevention of conflicts and strengthening of international security and the protection of civilian populations, as well as assisting populations confronting man-made disasters, Decision (CFSP) 2024/577 introduced additional measures to ensure that the unexpected and extraordinary profits of central securities depositories, accruing in the time period between the entry into force of that Decision and the moment when the temporary restrictive measures concerning assets and reserves of the Central Bank of Russia will be discontinued, benefit Ukraine. Those measures have been reflected in Council Regulation (EU) 2024/576 (9).

(19)

In particular, since 15 February 2024, central securities depositories holding reserves and assets of the Central Bank of Russia with a total value of more than EUR 1 million must account for and manage such extraordinary cash balances accumulating due to the immobilisation of assets and reserves of the Central Bank of Russia separately from their other activities, and also keep the unexpected and extraordinary revenues generated separate.

(20)

Central securities depositories are also prohibited from disposing of their ensuing net profits, as determined in accordance with national law, after deduction of corporate tax under the general regime of the Member State concerned, whether by way of distribution in the form of dividends or in whatever form to the benefit of shareholders or of any third party until the Council decides on the establishment of a financial contribution raised on those net profits to support Ukraine. The ensuing net profits generated before 15 February 2024 remain unrestricted and immediately available to absorb expenses, risks and losses incurred by central securities depositories, as required under Union and national laws applicable to central securities depositories, including under prudential legislation where relevant.

(21)

Marking the second year of Russia’s illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the G7 Leaders in their Statement of 24 February 2024 reiterated their countries’ continuing support for Ukraine’s right to self-defence and their commitment to Ukraine’s long-term security, and committed to step-up their security assistance to Ukraine and increase production and delivery capabilities to assist the country. That statement welcomed the adoption of the Union legal acts concerning extraordinary revenues of central securities depositories gained from Russia’s immobilised sovereign assets and encouraged further steps to enable their use, consistent with applicable contractual obligations and in accordance with applicable laws.

(22)

In view of the gravity of the situation and in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and as long as the illegal actions by the Russian Federation continue to violate fundamental rules of international law, including, in particular, the prohibition on the use of force enshrined in Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, or of international humanitarian law, it is appropriate to maintain in force all the measures imposed by the Union. It is also appropriate to take additional exceptional measures aiming at supporting Ukraine and its recovery and reconstruction as well as its self-defence against the Russian aggression, in line with the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, in particular preserving the Union’s values, fundamental interests, security, independence and integrity, the consolidation of and support for democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the principles of international law, including international humanitarian law, the right to self-defence and the prohibition of aggression under the UN Charter, the preservation of peace, prevention of conflicts and strengthening of international security and the protection of civilian populations as well as assisting populations confronting man-made disasters, such as those inflicted upon Ukraine and its population by Russia’s war of aggression.

(23)

The objective of these additional measures should ultimately be to support Ukraine and its recovery and reconstruction, as well as its self-defence against the Russian aggression, including through the European Peace Facility established by Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 (10) and Union programmes financed from the Union budget, such as the Ukraine Facility and programmes aiming at the recovery, reconstruction and modernisation of the Ukraine defence technological and industrial base. In line with the principle of legal certainty, the additional measures should apply from 15 February 2024.

(24)

In particular, it is appropriate to lay down rules on how the net profits ensuing from the unexpected and extraordinary revenues accruing to central securities depositories as a result of the implementation of the restrictive measures, in particular the prohibition laid down in Article 1a(4) of Decision 2014/512/CFSP and Article 5a(4) of Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, should be directed to support Ukraine and its recovery and reconstruction as well as its self-defence against Russia’s war of aggression, consistent with applicable contractual obligations, and in accordance with Union and international law, in coordination with partners. The Commission should inform the Council biannually on the amounts transferred by the central securities depositories.

(25)

The central securities depositories holding assets and reserves with a total value of more than EUR 1 million should contribute from their corresponding net profits a financial contribution equivalent to 99,7 % of those net profits accumulating since 15 February 2024. This rate is justified by the fact that the net profits in question result necessarily from the implementation of the restrictive measures, in particular the prohibition laid down in Article 1a(4) of Decision 2014/512/CFSP and Article 5a(4) of Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, and therefore central securities depositories cannot expect to gain an undue and unintended economic benefit from them. Given the responsibilities of the central securities depositories and the role they are playing in handling the immobilised assets, it is however appropriate to provide that they can retain a limited percentage of the net profits to ensure the efficiency of their work. Payments should be made in biannual instalments until the extraordinary profits cease accumulating on the balance sheets of central securities depositories due to the discontinuation of the restrictive measures prohibiting transactions with the assets and reserves of the Central Bank of Russia.

(26)

Central securities depositories should be able to provisionally retain a share not exceeding 10 % of the financial contribution in view of complying with statutory capital and risk management requirements in view of the impact due to the war in Ukraine with regard to the assets held by central securities depositories. If this share becomes insufficient in the future, it should be possible for central securities depositories to submit to the national supervisory authority a duly justified request to retain an additional percentage of the financial contribution due. Retention of an additional percentage may be authorised only if it is strictly necessary to comply with risk management requirements in view of the impact due to the war in Ukraine with regard to the assets held by central securities depositories.

(27)

This Decision provides for additional measures which create new obligations for central securities depositories, namely to contribute to the Union for the purpose of supporting Ukraine and its recovery and reconstruction as well as its self-defence against the Russian aggression. Given the context in which these measures are taken, the specific situation of central securities depositories and the legitimate aim of the measures for the pursuit of the Union’s foreign and security policy objectives, in particular preserving the Union’s values, fundamental interests, security, independence and integrity, the consolidation of and support for democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the principles of international law, including international humanitarian law, the right to self-defence and the prohibition of aggression under the UN Charter, the preservation of peace, prevention of conflicts and strengthening of international security and the protection of civilian populations as well as assisting populations confronting man-made disasters, such as those inflicted upon Ukraine and its population by Russia’s war of aggression, these measures fully respect the fundamental rights and freedoms recognised in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular Articles 17 and 52 thereof, as they are justified and proportionate to the objectives pursued.

(28)

The restrictive measures linked to the prohibition of transactions related to the management of the assets and reserves of the Central Bank of Russia should remain in place until Russia ceases its war of aggression against Ukraine and compensates Ukraine for the damage caused by this war.

(29)

Further action by the Union is needed in order to implement certain measures.

(30)

Decision 2014/512/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly,

(1)

in Article 1a, paragraph 8 is replaced by the following:

(2)

in Article 1a, the following paragraphs are added:

(*1)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 of 22 March 2021 establishing a European Peace Facility, and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2015/528 (OJ L 102, 24.3.2021, p. 14).’."