New EU sanctions against Belarusian transport companies will come into effect on August 2. Companies in which the share of Belarusian companies or citizens is at least 25 percent will not be able to carry out transport within the EU, the Ministry of Finance announced on Thursday.
“As of August 2nd this year, new rules for road transport companies will come into force, in connection with the adoption of another package of sanctions against Belarus. The current ban on transport by companies based in Belarus will be extended. According to the new regulations, EU companies, which in at least 25 percent are owned by a Belarusian natural or legal person, will no longer be able to undertake road freight transport in the EUalso in relation to transit,” we read in a Thursday statement by the Ministry of Finance.
New sanctions
The ministry added that the ban would not apply to road transport companies “owned by dual citizens or Belarusian citizens with a temporary or permanent residence permit in a Member State”. It also recalled that road transport companies were required to disclose their ownership structure to the competent national authorities upon request.
“Since July 26, similar rules have been in force for road transport companies that are at least 25 percent owned by a Russian natural or legal person,” the Ministry of Finance reported.
Ownership structure subject to control
The Ministry explained that the issue of the company's ownership structure will be analysed during road transport inspections “by all authorised bodies”, including officers of the Customs and Fiscal Service.
“Entrepreneurs conducting transport activities should take into account the need to present documents confirming the ownership structure, both during transport and during inspections at border crossings,” the Ministry of Finance said.
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