On 23 July 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted a regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 to expand sanctions against Belarus for its involvement in Russia's war on Ukraine. The new measures add export restrictions on dual-use and military-enhancement items, including nickel powders, beryllium powders, self-adhesive films, and UAV-specific components such as ground support, jamming systems, launch systems, servomotors, and flight termination systems. Import restrictions target goods that diversify Belarus's revenue, such as copper ores, nickel ores, lead ores, precious-metals ores, unwrought zinc, alkaline-earth metals, zinc oxides, chromium oxides, tall oil, glassware, and car parts.
The regulation also tightens ownership rules for crypto-asset service providers. From one month after entry into force, the prohibition on Belarusian nationals or residents owning, controlling, or holding posts in EU-incorporated entities extends to any entity providing crypto-asset services as defined in Regulation (EU) 2023/1114. This builds on the existing ban on wallet, account, and custody services that has been in place since 26 March 2025.
any person covered by Article 10 (third or fourth indent) may recover direct or indirect damages, including legal costs, in Member State courts from persons or entities that lodged claims in third-country courts under Article 8d(1)(a)-(e), if the claimant lacks effective access to remedies in that third-country jurisdiction. Exclusions apply to nationals of EU Member States, European Economic Area countries, or Switzerland, and to natural persons with a temporary or permanent residence permit in those countries.
The regulation includes a derogation for internet infrastructure: competent authorities may authorise the sale, supply, transfer, or export of certain CN codes (8517 62 and 8523 52) for civilian electronic communications networks, provided they are for non-military use and end-users. A temporary derogation for Hungary allows the import ban on CN code 2901 10 00 (originating in or exported from Belarus) not to apply to Hungary from 26 January 2026 until 31 December 2026, provided the goods are for exclusive use in Hungary.
Transitional carve-outs are provided for new import bans on several CN codes (3803, 7006, 7008, 7009, 7011, 7013, 7014, 7017, 7018, 7020, 8707, 8708): these bans shall not apply to contracts concluded before the regulation's entry into force, or ancillary contracts, for up to three months after entry into force.
EU businesses in the affected sectors (chemicals, metals, glassware, automotive parts) face new compliance costs and supply chain adjustments. Crypto-asset service providers must conduct enhanced due diligence to avoid ownership by Belarusian nationals or residents. Belarusian entities lose access to EU markets for the listed goods, reducing revenue streams. EU consumers may see minor price increases for imported goods like glassware and car parts, but the impact is limited by the transitional carve-outs.
The regulation is a legislative act adopted by the Council. It does not require European Parliament approval as it falls under common foreign and security policy. Member states must implement the measures within their national legal orders. The European Commission will monitor compliance and may propose further amendments.