European Commission eases ban on import of personal belongings for Russians

The European Commission has eased the ban on the import of personal belongings for Russians.

EU member states should focus on enforcing the provisions banning the import of cars registered in Russia, according to updated clarifications on banning imports from Russia listed in Annex XXI to Article 3i of Sanctions Regulation No. 833/2014, Gazeta.ru reports.

Although other "goods" from the regulation, i.e. personal belongings of Russians, are also formally banned from import, it is emphasised that they are of "minor concern in terms of circumventing sanctions".

Before that, it was reported that the ban on the entry of cars of Russian citizens was in force even before the clarification of the European Commission. Allegedly, since 2022, Russian citizens have been prohibited from entering the EU territory with their cars, even for tourist purposes and for a short period of time.

Earlier, the European Commission said that entry to the EU from Russia by personal car is subject to sanctions.