The European Commission clarified that Russians entering the EU will not be confiscated sanctioned personal clothing, while entry into the EU in cars registered in Russia will be regarded as prohibited imports. This was stated by the representative of the European Commission Daniel Ferry.
According to the European official, the authorities of the European Union countries are obliged to take into account the circumstances when deciding to confiscate from citizens of the Russian Federation things that are subject to the import ban. Ferry also noted that a person crossing the border wearing restricted clothing is “unlikely to intend to circumvent sanctions” and such a case should not be taken into account.
Earlier, the European Commission confirmed the interpretation of the sanctions legislation regarding Russia, according to which entry into the EU countries with cars registered in the Russian Federation will be regarded as prohibited import.
In turn, the Russian Embassy in Finland stated that Russian citizens should refrain from traveling to Finland in cars with Russian license plates due to new clarifications from the European Commission.
The EC regulation “prohibits the direct purchase, import or transfer” of cars. In addition, the European Commission emphasized that it does not matter whether the car is of Russian origin or is imported from Russia.
According to RBC, the customs authorities of the EU countries may also not allow personal belongings of Russians (including tourists): cosmetics, suitcases, laptops and mobile phones, as well as leather and fur products, semi-precious and precious stones, toilet paper, shampoos, toothpastes. pastes, trailers and semi-trailers for the transport of goods, yachts, cameras.
In the summer of 2022, several citizens of the Russian Federation faced seizures of cars at customs in Germany, writes RBC, and in September 2023, the Russian Embassy in the country announced new cases of seizure of vehicles. The European Commission notes that its explanations are advisory in nature for the implementation of sanctions, but “only the European Court is authorized to interpret EU legislation.”
