On March 2, 2022, the Council of the European Union adopted Council Regulation (EU) 2022/355, amending Regulation (EC) No 765/2006, to impose a broad new set of sectoral sanctions against Belarus in response to its involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The measures entered into force the following day.
Among the new restrictions, the EU expanded existing controls on dual-use items from a limited military end-use prohibition to a blanket ban on the sale, supply, transfer, or export of all dual-use goods and technology to any person in Belarus or for use in Belarus. A new Annex Va introduced additional controls on goods and technology that could contribute to Belarus’s military and technological enhancement or to the development of its defense and security sector. Related technical assistance, brokering services, financing, and financial assistance were also prohibited.
Exemptions were available only under narrow conditions, such as for humanitarian purposes or the urgent prevention of events with serious health, safety, or environmental impact. Pre-existing contracts concluded before March 2, 2022, could be performed under member state authorization if requested before May 1, 2022. The measures closely mirrored restrictions the EU had adopted against Russia on February 25, 2022.