The Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) of the EU Council is scheduled to adopt four sets of restrictive measures against Russia and Belarus on 23 July 2026, according to a provisional agenda published on 22 July 2026. The measures target Russia's aggression against Ukraine and Belarus's involvement, covering sanctions related to Russia's actions destabilising Ukraine, measures against actions undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity, and measures regarding Belarus. The adoption will be conducted via written procedure, as specified in the agenda.
The meeting, set for 08:30 in Brussels, will continue agenda item 19 from the previous day's session. The documents to be adopted include Council Decisions and Regulations on restrictive measures concerning Russia (documents 10019/2/26 REV 2, 10411/4/26 REV 4, 10413/4/26 REV 4 + REV 4 ADD 1 + REV 3 ADD 1-2), measures against actions undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity (documents 9964/2/26 REV 2, 10417/4/26 REV 4, 10418/4/26 REV 4 + REV 4 ADD 1, 10419/3/26 REV 3, 10420/4/26 REV 4), and measures regarding Belarus (documents 10024/1/26 REV 1, 10414/4/26 REV 4, 10415/4/26 REV 4 + ADD 1 REV 4, 9969/1/26 REV 1, 9966/26, 9968/26). The meeting format is restricted to 1+1 (no listening room).
This adoption marks a continuation of the EU's sanctions policy since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The new packages are expected to impose additional economic and individual measures, targeting sectors such as energy, finance, and trade, as well as individuals and entities linked to the aggression. The use of written procedure indicates a streamlined adoption process, likely reflecting prior agreement among member states.
The sanctions will impact EU businesses operating in or trading with Russia and Belarus, particularly in sectors like energy, technology, and finance, by imposing new compliance requirements and potential export/import restrictions. EU consumers may face indirect effects through higher energy prices or supply chain disruptions. National authorities in EU member states will need to implement the measures, requiring administrative resources for enforcement. Meanwhile, Russian and Belarusian entities targeted by the measures will face asset freezes and travel bans, further isolating their economies.
Following Coreper's adoption, the Council is expected to formally approve the packages through written procedure, with publication in the Official Journal of the European Union shortly thereafter. The measures will enter into force on the date of publication.