A group of European countries not in the EU aligned with the EU's recent sanctions decisions under the bloc's South Sudan and cyberattack sanctions regime, the European Council announced. In May, the council updated its list of individuals subject to the South Sudan restrictions. North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Ukraine and Moldova then aligned with the decision, the council said June 7. Under the regime targeting cyberattacks against the EU, the council extended the restrictive measures for three years, until May 18, 2025. North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Norway and Ukraine aligned with the decision, the council said.
The EU General Court in a June 1 judgment dismissed an application from sanctioned individual Yevgeniy Prigozhin to revoke the European Council acts including and maintaining his designation under the Libya sanctions regime. Prigozhin was originally listed due to his standing as a Russian businessman with links to the paramilitary Wagner Group. He filed his case to argue that the council relied on inadmissible evidence to make the sanctions decisions. The court rejected this claim, holding that the evidence, which includes UN reports and press articles, appears sound and reliable and thus contains "some probative value."
The EU General Court dismissed an application for "interim measures" made by an individual listed under the EU's Russia sanctions regime. The court ruled that the application didn't show a good prima facie case and that there was no urgency or serious irreparable harm in the matter, thus no need was presented to suspend the pending restrictive measures, according to an unofficial translation. The court has ruled in the same way on all interim measures cases on restrictive measures.
The EU and Taiwan held a trade and investment dialogue last week, which included talks about boosting cooperation in export controls, sanctions and foreign investment screening. The two sides also hope to “deepen their cooperation” in the semiconductor industry and want to improve market access for EU agricultural products in Taiwan, the EU said.
The EU and Egypt intend to sign a deal later in June to help supply the EU with gas as it looks to move away from its dependence on Russian energy supply, according to a draft document, Bloomberg reported. The EU, Egypt and Israel are set to sign a memorandum of understanding when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visits Cairo, the statement said. The deal would involve Israeli natural gas being liquefied in Egyptian processing plants before being shipped to the EU, Bloomberg reported June 3.
Russia will restrict exports of certain noble gases that are used to make chips, Reuters reported June 3. The restrictions will apply to neon and other gases until Dec. 31, the report said. Exports will be allowed only with special government permission. Russia said it hopes to increase its production capacity for the gases and to strengthen its position in the global chip supply chain, the report said.
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, known as FINMA, will extend its restrictions on the Swiss wing of Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, until August due to "heightened international sanctions and the continuing risks for the bank's liquidity situation," FINMA announced June 1. In March, the financial regulatory agency imposed the restrictions on Sberbank, deferring the bank's obligations for deposits and banning payments and transactions. The restrictions will now carry until Aug. 2, FINMA said.
The EU and the U.K. have agreed to a coordinated ban on insuring ships carrying Russian oil, Financial Times reported May 31. The measure comes after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's statement over the EU's sixth sanctions package on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Von der Leyen touted a ban on insurance and reinsurance of Russian ships by EU companies along with a ban on 90% of Russian oil imports by the end of 2022 -- a number arrived at in a bid to appease Hungary.
The U.K. issued two General Licenses under its Russia sanctions regime, permitting certain action for charities and telecommunications services. Under the "Russia Designated Persons -- Charities and Interim Managers and trustees" license, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation permits an interim manager or trustee of a charity linked to a listed individual or entity to make payments to meet the charity's basic needs until May 30, 2023.
The EU added one group and two individuals to its ISIL/Da'esh and al-Qaida sanctions regime, the European Council announced May 30. The restrictions apply to Hurras al-Din, the Syria-based affiliate of al-Qaida, its leader Faruq al-Suri and its religious leader Sami al-Aridi.