On 8 September 2026, the UK government designated five settlers under the existing Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 and announced that it will introduce a new sanctions regime targeting settlements in the occupied West Bank over the next six to nine months, under the powers conferred to it by the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. The announcement formed part of a coordinated cross-jurisdictional effort and was made alongside a joint statement by the UK and 11 other countries, including France, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden. These countries committed…
Effective 25 September 2025, Poland has officially partially opened its border with Belarus. This move was announced by the Polish Prime Minister on 23 September 2025. From 25 September 2025, the road border crossing in Terespol (for personal movement) and Kukuryki (for commercial movement which is permitted exclusively for vehicles registered in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland) are open. Additionally, the rail border crossings in Terespol, Kuźnica Białostocka, Zubki Białostockie (inactive), and Siemianówka are open…
Effective 12 September 2025, Poland has officially closed all border crossings with Belarus until further notice. This move was announced by the Polish Minister of Interior Affairs on 10 September 2025, in response to the joint Russian-Belarusian military exercise “Zapad 2025”. From 12 September 2025, no commercial or person movement is possible through any of the Polish-Belarusian border crossings. The closure applies to road, rail, and pedestrian traffic, effectively sealing the border. Poland’s border policy…
Background Article 8a of Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014 (the “EU Russia Regulations”) imposes obligations on EU parents to undertake “best efforts” to ensure that activities conducted by their non-EU subsidiaries do not undermine EU sanctions targeting Russia and Belarus. This requirement, which was introduced in June 2024, raises complex questions about the scope of EU sanctions and their applicability to the activities of non-EU entities. The Commission previously issued guidance in November 2024 in relation…