The Council of the European Union adopts the 8th package of sanctions in relation to the Ukrainian crisis

The FIAU would like to bring to your attention the fact that the Council of the European Union has adopted the 8th package of sanctions in response to the illegal occupation by the Russian Federation of certain non-government controlled areas of Ukraine.

These further restrictive measures against Russia were published in the Official Journal of the EU on the 6th October 2022 and include the following:

• Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1903 of 6 October 2022 amending Regulation (EU) 2022/263 which now extends the geographical scope of the previous Decision (CFSP) 2022/266 to cover all the non-government-controlled areas.

• Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1904 of 6 October 2022 amending Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 which lays down a list of restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising situation in Ukraine

• Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1905 of 6 October 2022 amending Regulation (EU) NO 269/ 2014 which introduced a further criterion for the listing of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies subject to asset freeze, and the prohibition to make funds and economic resources available to designated persons and entities.

• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/ 1906 of 6 October 2022 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/ 2014 whereby more persons and entities were added to the list of those to be subject to restrictive measures due to their responsibility for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine.

• Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/1907 of 6 October 2022 amending Decision 2014/ 145/CFSP whereby the Council introduced a further listing criterion targeting the facilitating of infringements of the prohibition against circumvention of restrictive measures that contribute to the destabilising of Ukraine.

• Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/ 1908 of 6 October 2022 amending Decision (CFSP) 2022/266 whereby the geographical scope of the restrictions mentioned was extended to cover all the non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine.

• Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/1909 of 6 October 2022 amending Decision 2014/ 512/ CFSP whereby more restrictive measures were introduced, including the prohibition to engage in any transaction with certain Russian State-owned or State-controlled legal persons, entities or bodies with the inclusion of a ban on Union nationals to hold any posts on the governing bodies of those legal persons.

The FIAU, would like to stress to subject persons the importance of keeping abreast of any developments related to their obligations, including being up to date with the latest sanctions and restrictive measures imposed by the EU against Russia, and to ensure adherence to them.

For any questions related to these new measures or for any queries related to sanctions, subject persons are to seek direction from the SMB. Queries may be sent by email on sanctions.mfea@gov.mt.

Furthermore, the FIAU would like to remind subject persons of its own Guidance Note on the interplay between anti-money laundering/funding of terrorism obligations and the restrictive measures applicable in the context of the current situation in Ukraine. The Guidance Note is accessible through the FIAU’s own website.