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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government injects funding boost for cutting-edge vaccine site in Darlington [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Government injects funding boost for cutting-edge vaccine site in Darlington [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 7 October 2022.

    • Government’s Vaccine Taskforce has granted £10.65 million in additional funding to support the launch of Darlington RNA vaccine innovation centre
    • the ‘RNA Centre of Excellence’, hosted by technology innovation organisation CPI, will support the development, scale-up and manufacture of new RNA therapies and vaccines, the same technology used for the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccinations
    • CPI has also established an RNA Training Academy, to support companies by providing the industry with the skills required in RNA technology

    The government has today (Friday 7 October) announced £10.65 million in funding to boost the development of RNA technology, the vaccine innovation that protected millions around the world from COVID-19. The funding will support the launch of a new innovation centre by CPI in Darlington, advancing the technology that is currently under development for the treatment of various cancers, flu vaccines and personalised medicines including gene therapy.

    The Vaccine Taskforce granted the funding – administered by Innovate UK – for CPI’s RNA Centre of Excellence, which has the potential to make homegrown breakthroughs in the fight against a number of diseases, producing RNA material for clinical trials which will be crucial to future vaccine development.

    The Centre is the only site in the UK currently able to develop and manufacture messenger and self-amplifying RNA vaccines and therapies with the capability to manufacture millions of doses of a vaccine, if required for a future healthcare emergency.

    It will provide state-of-the-art equipment and world-leading expertise to support industry with the testing, scale-up and clinical production of RNA technologies – showcasing the UK’s capability in this area and helping to promote the UK as an attractive destination for further investment.

    Minister for Science and Investment Security Nusrat Ghani said:

    The UK’s exceptional capabilities in Life Sciences were showcased on the world stage when we became the first nation globally to approve a working COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic.

    We are now committed to boosting these capabilities even further, ensuring we are thoroughly prepared for future health emergencies and remaining at the forefront of the development of new therapies. This is why we are making this significant investment in CPI’s brilliant RNA facility in Darlington, a site with the potential to make enormous homegrown breakthroughs in the fight against disease.

    The Centre will also form an important part of the UK’s commitment to future pandemic preparedness, as the government will retain priority access to the facility for up to 10 years. This will allow vaccine developers to utilise the site as required to provide additional manufacturing capacity in the event of a future health emergency or pandemic.

    As part of the Centre, CPI has also established the RNA Training Academy, providing interactive courses in RNA technology alongside bespoke training at CPI facilities to ensure that companies can access the industry skills they require in the UK. The Academy has already gained accreditation to provide continuing professional development.

    Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said:

    CPI is a fantastic example of a local organisation at the cutting-edge of biosciences and its new Centre of Excellence will be another string to the bow of the growing cluster on Darlington’s Central Park and our world-leading life sciences sector.

    This latest boost comes on the back of the amazing work of the sector in the fight against coronavirus. This funding will help our scientists make even more leaps forward and breakthroughs, having a huge impact on lives across the UK and beyond. Funding of our research centres, labs and manufacturing space will help create high-quality, highly-skilled and well-paid jobs in the innovative industries of the future for local people.

    While we’re seeing difficulties across the globe which are making times tough for many, our region continues to move forward and make huge progress thanks to investments like these – meaning the long-term future of Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool is bright.

    This funding illustrates the proactive steps the government is taking to realise the 2021 Life Sciences Vision, and to continue furthering its ambitions to secure the UK’s reputation as a life sciences superpower. The investment also delivers on the government’s levelling up agenda, supporting highly skilled jobs and helping bring greater prosperity and productivity in the north-east region.

    The Vaccine Taskforce previously supported the construction and development of CPI’s centre with funding of £26.48 million, and to date, the government has invested over £405 million to secure and scale up the UK’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities, supporting the UK’s ability to respond to future pandemics.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 51 – UK General Comment on Afghanistan [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 51 – UK General Comment on Afghanistan [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 October 2022.

    The UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French, underlines the UK’s support for the Special Rapporteur’s work on Afghanistan at the UN Human Rights Council.

    Thank you, Mr President,

    Let me begin by expressing my heartfelt condolences to the victims of the horrific attack at the Kaaj Education Centre last week.

    And let me thank the main sponsors of resolution L27 for presenting this important initiative to the Council. We welcome their constructive and transparent engagement during the negotiation process on what we believe is a balanced text.

    This resolution seeks to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan for a further year. Looking back to the start of this session, we listened to courageous human rights defenders from Afghanistan in this very room. We heard testimonies from the women and girls who are being rendered invisible by the Taliban. And we heard from the Special Rapporteur himself, about this crucial mandate in giving a voice to those who remain in the country whilst their human rights are being stripped away.

    That is why the UK strongly supports the continuation and strengthening of this mandate at a time when Afghans need it the most. Afghanistan still remains the only country in the world where girls cannot attend secondary school. Religious and ethnic minorities, particularly the Hazara people, LGBT+ persons and civil society activists are facing increased levels of violence and discrimination.

    Mr President,

    The UK has co-sponsored this draft resolution. We urge all members of the Council to join us in fully supporting the Special Rapporteur’s work and reject attempts to derail this much-needed mandate.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : 3D printing at record scale and AI for steelmaking among tech awarded share of £14 million government funding [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : 3D printing at record scale and AI for steelmaking among tech awarded share of £14 million government funding [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 7 October 2022.

    • £14 million awarded to projects that harness digital technology to drive energy efficiency, productivity and growth across key manufacturing industries
    • projects include sustainable 3D printing at scale, digitising century old baking techniques and using AI to improve steel production efficiency
    • combined, the projects could create 1000 jobs across the UK and save 300,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, the same as taking 65,000 cars off our roads

    3D printing at record scale, AI to make steelmaking more productive and using big data to make century-old baking machinery more efficient are among the projects awarded a combined £13.7 million in government funding to help improve energy efficiency, productivity and sustainability of manufacturing processes.

    The Sustainable Smart Factory Competition, led by UKRI, provides funding for projects that harness digital innovations, such as AI, big data and virtual reality, to boost energy and carbon efficiency, while driving growth for manufacturers. The projects awarded funding aim to optimise the use of materials, reduce and reuse waste, or lower energy consumption to increase sustainability in production.

    Among the 12 projects awarded funding today as part of the Made Smarter Innovation Challenge are:

    • Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing for Baking Industry, led by Rakusen Limited – using AI to improve the consistency of the products produced by their century old baking machinery and helping reduce energy consumption by 60%
    • LEAD Factory, led by Photocentric – the first technology that will enable products to be 3D printed at scale using recycled materials
    • WasteMap, led by Topolytics – using machine learning to develop a visual map of useful, reusable manufacturing products that can be extracted from our waste system
    • Reducing Energy Consumption and Material Loss in Steel Production Using Predictive Machine Learning, led by Deep.Meta – using machine learning to boost sustainability in the production of steel by predicting where inefficiencies lie before they happen
    • INSPIRE by Pragmatic Semiconductor – tackling global semiconductor shortages by using AI to optimise manufacturing productivity and efficiency
    • Smart People + Smart Process = Smart Factory, led by Raynor Foods Limited – turning sustainability into a game at the Raynor Foods sandwich factory to enable staff to see and then act on their energy use and CO2 footprint in real time

    Industry Minister Jackie Doyle-Price said:

    Creating and adopting the latest in digital technology solutions will be key to the continued success of our manufacturing sector. It is now critical that companies in industries as varied as baking to advanced robotics are maximising their potential using technology such as AI and virtual reality.

    The projects awarded funding today will cut energy consumption and boost growth for businesses in regions right across the UK, while helping our world leading manufacturers keep pace with ever growing global competition.

    It is estimated the projects could create 1,000 jobs in the 3 years after their completion, while reducing manufacturing CO2 emissions by 300,000 tonnes a year – the equivalent to taking nearly 65,000 cars off our roads.

    The successful project consortiums range from 2 to 10 participant organisations each, making a combined 55 organisations taking part. These included participants stretching from Scotland to the South West and from Northern Ireland to East Anglia. They are made up of both SME and large manufacturers as well as technology developers, Universities and Research & Technology organisations.

    Chris Needham, Innovation Lead in the Made Smarter Innovation Challenge said:

    Effective digital technologies can have a substantial impact on the manufacturing sector, bringing outdated, inefficient and unproductive products and processes up the standards needed for a net zero industry of the future. It’s clear from the wide range of applications we received just how far waste and energy issues extend across different industries.

    The successful applicants clearly demonstrated real innovation and showed just how the right use of data and technology can make a significant difference to businesses. We now look forward to working alongside them to deliver successful outcomes.

    The £147 million Made Smarter Innovation Challenge supports the transformation of UK manufacturing by pioneering the development and integration of new and existing industrial digital technologies, including artificial intelligence and virtual reality. The challenge helps take the risk out of innovation for UK manufacturers and supports the development of technologies that can be exploited commercially.

    Science Minister Nusrat Ghani said:

    The digital innovations we are backing today could help manufacturers of products as diverse as steel to semiconductors boost growth, create high quality jobs and enhance energy efficiency.

    Through collaboration between leading UK researchers, technology firms and manufacturers, these innovations will ensure British industry remains internationally competitive, while bringing benefits to businesses in regions across the UK.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Avanti West Coast placed on short-term contract to drastically improve services [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Avanti West Coast placed on short-term contract to drastically improve services [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 7 October 2022.

    • Avanti West Coast placed on short-term contract to stabilise its operational challenges
    • government has only approved a limited extension of 6 months to 1 April 2023
    • Avanti must roll out its recovery plan and deliver long-overdue reliability for passengers

    The Department for Transport has placed Avanti West Coast on a short-term contract and challenged it to deliver the urgent increase in services required.

    Over the past few months, Avanti has seen major operational issues primarily caused by a shortage of available drivers. Nearly 100 additional drivers will have entered formal service this year between April and December. This has meant the company has begun to add more services as new drivers and those who need re-training become available to work. They have also added extra trains on its key London-Manchester and London-Birmingham routes, bringing service levels closer to normal running.

    With Avanti’s previous contract coming to an end, the short-term extension will see it continue to run services on the route until 1 April 2023. This window is designed to provide Avanti with the opportunity to improve their services. The government will then consider Avanti’s performance while finalising a National Rail Contract that will have a renewed focus on resilience of train services and continuity for passengers.

    Alongside rolling ahead with training new drivers, Avanti’s service improvement plans include:

    • the successful delivery of its timetable recovery plan and a significant, sustained and reliable increase from about 180 trains per day to 264 trains per day on weekdays as new and retrained drivers become available
    • continuing to deliver on its traincrew recruitment and plans to reduce reliance on rest day working to operate services
    • extending booking options for passengers, making the full range of tickets available as early as possible

    Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

    We need train services which are reliable and resilient to modern day life. Services on Avanti have been unacceptable and while the company has taken positive steps to get more trains moving, it must do more to deliver certainty of service to its passengers.

    We have agreed a 6-month extension to Avanti to assess whether it is capable of running this crucial route to a standard passengers deserve and expect.

    The problems facing Avanti over recent weeks stem from old working practices that mean shifts are often covered by existing drivers volunteering to work above their 35 contracted hours. This antiquated practice shows just how urgent it is for us to modernise our railways, so passengers benefit from reliable services that don’t rely on the goodwill of drivers volunteering to work overtime.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister welcomes ‘powerful show of solidarity’ at European leaders’ meeting [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister welcomes ‘powerful show of solidarity’ at European leaders’ meeting [October 2022]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 October 2022.

    • Prime Minister pays tribute to “collective resolve” of leaders to oppose Russian aggression
    • UK agrees new regional energy cooperation and progress on Sizewell C nuclear development at Prague summit
    • Ministers to take forward enhanced operational cooperation to address migrant crisis

    The Prime Minister has welcomed the strong show of unity against tyranny at the summit of European leaders today, as the UK secures new commitments on energy and migration.

    Convening 44 leaders from across the continent, the meeting in Prague reaffirmed the steadfast resistance to Russia’s aggression.

    In a meeting with French President Macron, both leaders confirmed their full support for the new nuclear power station at Sizewell C and committed to take all necessary steps to finalise investment decisions within the next month, progressing the next generation of the UK’s nuclear power.

    The UK and France will ramp up wider cooperation on civil-nuclear development ahead of a planned UK-France Summit in 2023, working together on issues including new innovation, infrastructure and workforce training.

    Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala also confirmed plans to renew the UK’s participation in the North Seas Energy Cooperation group, which supports the construction of wind farms and interconnectors in the region. The Prime Minister used the summit to push for the development of new, next-generation hybrid interconnectors in the North Sea to accelerate renewable energy capacity.

    Prime Minister Liz Truss said:

    “Leaders leave this summit with greater collective resolve to stand up to Russian aggression. What we have seen in Prague is a forceful show of solidarity with Ukraine, and for the principles of freedom and democracy.

    “The UK will continue to work with our allies to deliver on the British people’s priorities, including ending our reliance on authoritarian regimes for energy and reducing costs for families, tackling people smuggling gangs, and standing up to tyrants.”

    The Prime Minister also discussed the benefits of energy partnerships with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Støre, highlighting today’s announcement from London-based firm Neptune Energy that it will increase gas production at the Duva field as a successful example. Gas from Norway’s Duva subsea field serves households in the UK.

    On migration, the UK Prime Minister agreed with President Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Rutte to intensify cooperation on tackling illegal migration. The UK and France confirmed that their interior ministers would conclude an ambitious package of measures to address pernicious people smuggling gangs in the Channel this autumn.

    The Prime Minister will attend the closing plenary session and dinner at the European leaders’ summit this evening.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Recognising the clear link between illicit trading of natural resources and conflict [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Recognising the clear link between illicit trading of natural resources and conflict [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 October 2022.

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council debate on strengthening the fight against the financing of armed groups and terrorists through the illicit trafficking of natural resources.

    Thank you very much, President.

    President Excellency, thank you for convening this important debate, and I thank our briefers as well this morning for their insights. I’d like to highlight three considerations.

    First, as today’s briefers and previous speakers have underlined, we recognise the clear link between illicit trading of natural resources and conflict. From Somalia to Sudan to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the illicit trade in natural resources of charcoal, timber and gold has helped fund conflict and the activities of armed groups.

    And we should bear in mind that increased global demand for critical minerals – essential to decarbonisation and our green growth goals – risks exacerbating the illegal sourcing of natural resources without appropriate action.

    So we do need a concerted and coordinated effort to tackle illicit trafficking as a root cause of conflict, and in this context, I welcome the African Union’s efforts including conflict prevention, including the work of Commissioner Bankole and his department. As a Council, too, we should look at ways to strengthen the UN Security Council’s sanctions regimes both against individuals and entities that illegally exploit natural resources to fund or prolong or provoke conflict. The Council acted in Somalia by banning the export of charcoal to inhibit Al-Shabaab’s revenue streams; we can and should do more across other mandates.

    Second, President, we need stronger regulation and governance efforts to tackle the illicit trafficking of natural resources, including stringent certification and verification processes.

    And in this context, the UK is proud to support a number of international mechanisms that deliver this, including the OECD’s Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains and the Kimberley Process that helps stem the flow of conflict diamonds.

    Finally, President, we share the view of previous distinguished speakers of the dangerous consequences of the exploitation of Africa’s natural resources by private military companies.

    There is significant independent reporting outlining the exploitation of gold resources in Sudan and the Central African Republic through Wagner Group’s subsidiaries like Meroe Gold. Gold extraction and smuggling operations risk undermining local stability, present significant ecological and human rights risks and are a significant loss to Sudan.

    The United Kingdom reiterates our concerns over Wagner Group’s activities in Africa, which undermine effective resource governance and offer no sustainable solutions to Africa’s security challenges.

    In concluding, President, I thank you again for convening this important debate during Gabon’s Security Council Presidency.

    Thank you.

     

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK-France Joint Statement [6 October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK-France Joint Statement [6 October 2022]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 October 2022.

    Prime Minister Liz Truss and President Emmanuel Macron met in the margins of the first Summit of the European Political Community in Prague.

    They underlined their determination to provide all necessary support to Ukraine for as long as it takes to restore Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, to resist Russian aggression, and to hold Russia to account for its actions.

    The President and the Prime Minister reaffirmed the strong and historic ties between their two countries. They agreed to hold the next UK-France Summit in 2023 in France to take forward a renewed bilateral agenda.

    Energy transition and decoupling from Russian hydro-carbons are common challenges. The Prime Minister and the President discussed advancing bilateral cooperation in particular on energy. They reaffirmed their belief that both renewable and nuclear energies are part of consistent strategies to achieve energy transition and strategic autonomy. They confirmed the full support of the UK and French Governments for the new nuclear power station at Sizewell and expect the relevant bodies to finalise arrangements in the coming month.

    The leaders committed to advance and increase UK-France civil-nuclear cooperation, including on innovation, infrastructure development and workforce skills, ahead of next year’s UK-France Summit.

    They further agreed to deepen cooperation on illegal migration within the bounds of international law, to tackle criminal groups trafficking people across Europe, ending in dangerous journeys across the Channel. Interior Ministers should conclude an ambitious package of measures this autumn. Leaders agreed to reinforce cooperation with near neighbours, including through an early meeting of the Calais group.

    President Macron and Prime Minister Truss welcomed the quality of the discussions during the first summit of the European Political Community and look forward to next steps.

     

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 51 – UK statement on slavery resolution [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 51 – UK statement on slavery resolution [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 October 2022.

    Ambassador Simon Manley, Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, introduced the resolution on the renewal of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, its causes and consequences.

    Thank you, Mr President,

    I have the honour to present draft resolution L.30 on the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, its causes and consequences on behalf of the Core Group.

    At the start of this session, the ILO and IOM informed the international community that 10 million more people are in situations of modern slavery compared to 2016. This means that the global estimate of people in modern slavery is almost 50 million, of which 28 million people are in situations of forced labour and 22 million people are trapped in forced marriages.

    These numbers are simply appalling.

    Mr President,

    The resolution presented today seeks to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, its causes and consequences for a further three years. The core group have only made minor technical updates to the text.

    This mandate has enjoyed more than 15 years of consensus and long-standing cross-regional support. And these staggering recent figures underline the ongoing need for this mandate to continue.

    I sincerely thank all those colleagues who have engaged constructively in the negotiation process on this resolution and, in particular, our more than 50 co-sponsors. I hope that all members of this Council can join consensus on this important issue.

    Thank you

  • PRESS RELEASE : UKHSA monitoring Ebola outbreak in East Africa [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : UKHSA monitoring Ebola outbreak in East Africa [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the UK Health Security Agency on 6 October 2022.

    The risk to the public in the UK is very low and there are currently no cases of the disease confirmed in the UK. A public health alert has been issued to urge healthcare professionals to be vigilant to the symptoms in patients who have recently returned from affected areas and to remind them of the established procedures for infection control and testing.

    Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a rare but severe infection. It is caused by the Ebola virus, a filovirus that was first recognised in 1976 and has caused sporadic outbreaks since in several African countries.

    Dr Meera Chand, UKHSA Director of Clinical and Emerging Infection, said:

    UKHSA constantly monitors emerging infection threats in collaboration with partners across the world. We are aware of an outbreak of Ebola cases in Uganda and are monitoring the situation closely. The risk to the public in the UK is very low.

    Background

    There has never been a case of Ebola virus disease contracted in the UK. Two cases contracted overseas were transported to the UK in 2014. Both recovered after treatment in specialist high consequence infectious disease (HCID) units.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Ukraine – EU agrees on eighth package of sanctions against Russia [October 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Ukraine – EU agrees on eighth package of sanctions against Russia [October 2022]

    The press release issued by the European Commission on 6 October 2022.

    The Commission welcomes the Council’s adoption of an eighth package of hard-hitting sanctions against Russia for its aggression against Ukraine. This package – which has been closely coordinated with our international partners – responds to Russia’s continued escalation and illegal war against Ukraine, including by illegally annexing Ukrainian territory based on sham “referenda”, mobilising additional troops, and issuing open nuclear threats.

    This package introduces new EU import bans worth €7 billion to curb Russia’s revenues, as well as export restrictions, which will further deprive the Kremlin’s military and industrial complex of key components and technologies and Russia’s economy of European services and expertise. The sanctions also deprive the Russian army and its suppliers from further specific goods and equipment needed to wage its war on Ukrainian territory. The package also lays the basis for the required legal framework to implement the oil price cap envisaged by the G7.

    Specifically, this package contains the following elements:

    Additional listings

    Additional individuals and entities have been sanctioned. This targets those involved in Russia’s occupation, illegal annexation, and sham “referenda” in the occupied territories/oblasts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. It also includes individuals and entities working in the defence sector, such as high-ranking and military officials, as well as companies supporting the Russian armed forces. The EU also continues to target actors who spread disinformation about the war.

    EU restrictive measure target key decision makers, oligarchs, senior military officials and propagandists, responsible for undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

    Extension of restrictions to the oblasts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia

    The geographical scope of the restrictive measures in response to the recognition of the non-government controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine and the ordering of Russian armed forces into those areas has been extended to cover all the non-government controlled areas of Ukraine in the oblasts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

    New export restrictions

    Additional export restrictions have been introduced which aim to reduce Russia’s access to military, industrial and technological items, as well as its ability to develop its defence and security sector.

    This includes the banning of the export of coal including coking coal (which is used in Russian industrial plants), specific electronic components (found in Russian weapons), technical items used in the aviation sector, as well as certain chemicals.

    A prohibition on exporting small arms and other goods under the anti-torture Regulation has been added.

    New import restrictions

    Almost €7 billion worth of additional import restrictions have been agreed.

    It includes, for example, a ban on the import of Russian finished and semi-finished steel products (subject to a transition period for some semi-finished), machinery and appliances, plastics, vehicles, textiles, footwear, leather, ceramics, certain chemical products, and non-gold jewellery.

    Implementing the G7 oil price cap

    Today’s package marks the beginning of the implementation within the EU of the G7 agreement on Russian oil exports. While the EU’s ban on importing Russian seaborne crude oil fully remains, the price cap, once implemented, would allow European operators to undertake and support the transport of Russian oil to third countries, provided its price remains under a pre-set “cap”. This will help to further reduce Russia’s revenues, while keeping global energy markets stable through continued supplies. It will thus also help address inflation and keep energy costs stable at a time when high costs – particularly elevated fuel prices – are a great concern to all Europeans.

    This measure is being closely coordinated with G7 partners. It would take effect after 5 December 2022 for crude and 5 February 2023 for refined petroleum products, after a further decision by the Council.

    Restrictions on State-owned enterprises

    Today’s package bans EU nationals from holding posts in the governing bodies of certain state-owned enterprises.

    It also bans all transactions with the Russian Maritime Register, adding it to the list of state-owned enterprises which are subject to a transaction ban.

    Financial, IT consultancy and other business services

    The existing prohibitions on crypto assets have been tightened by banning all crypto-asset wallets, accounts, or custody services, irrespective of the amount of the wallet (previously up to €10,000 was allowed).

    The package widens the scope of services that can no longer be provided to the government of Russia or legal persons established in Russia: these now include IT consultancy, legal advisory, architecture and engineering services. These are significant as they will potentially weaken Russia’s industrial capacity because it is highly dependent on importing these services.

    Deterring sanctions circumvention

    The EU has introduced a new listing criterion, which will allow it to sanction persons who facilitate the infringements of the prohibition against circumvention of sanctions.

    More Information

    The EU’s sanctions against Russia are proving effective. They are damaging Russia’s ability to manufacture new weapons and repair existing ones, as well as hinder its transport of material.

    The geopolitical, economic, and financial implications of Russia’s continued aggression are clear, as the war has disrupted global commodities markets, especially for agrifood products and energy. The EU continues to ensure that its sanctions do not impact energy and agrifood exports from Russia to third countries.

    As guardian of the EU Treaties, the European Commission monitors the enforcement of EU sanctions across the EU.

    The EU stands united in its solidarity with Ukraine, and will continue to support Ukraine and its people together with its international partners, including through additional political, financial, and humanitarian support.