The European Union has adopted new sanctions against Russia and Belarus, banning road hauliers from transporting goods to the EU in the transport sector and denying Russian-flagged vessels access to ports.

Road haulage within the European Union, including transit, is prohibited for any road haulage company registered in Russia and Belarus. In addition, the sanctions impose import restrictions on certain goods exported from or originating in Russia, including coal and other solid fossil fuels.

Latvia, together with its neighbouring countries, is one of the initiators of the adoption of this sanctions package, so Minister of Transport Tālis Linkaits is pleased that the EU Member States have finally been able to reach an agreement. “Latvia is ready to implement them immediately by imposing restrictions on the transportation of cargo from Russia and Belarus by road and sea, as well as the closure of Latvian ports to Russian ships,” reiterated the Minister of Transport.

Taking into account the possible steps of the response, the Minister calls on Latvian carriers to follow the decisions in this area closely and to ensure the return of vehicles located in Russia and Belarus to the EU Member States.

“With a united and firm response from the EU by imposing new sanctions, we can put enough pressure on Russia and achieve tangible results in the fight for democracy and freedom of Ukraine,” said Minister of Transport Tālis Linkaits.

Some exceptions will cover essential goods such as agricultural and food products, humanitarian aid and postal services.

The restrictions were already adopted in the fifth package of sanctions in response to the regime of President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and its brutal aggression in Ukraine. This decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. At the same time, the requirements for ports and road transport must be implemented within seven days of the publication of the decision.

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