Relaxation of Russian sanctions for the benefit of the European space industry

The EU sanctions regime against Russia has been amended in accordance with the Council’s resolution that the sanctions should not affect the European space industry. To this end, on 1 October 2015 European Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1764 amended Council Decision 2014/512/CFSP and on 7 October 2015 European Council Regulation 2015/1797 amended Regulation 833/2014.

The effect of the amendments is to permit certain operations, “necessary for the use of launchers operated by launch service providers of Member States or established in a Member State, or for the use of launches of space programmes of the Union, its Member States or of the European Space Agency, or for the fuelling of satellites by satellite manufacturers established in a Member State”.

Accordingly, the existing prohibition on the provision on certain ancillary services related to the sale, supply, transfer or export to Russia and/or the import, purchase or transport from Russia of certain forms of hydrazine (including technical assistance, brokering services, financing, financial assistance and other services) has been removed, save that prior authorisation to carry out such activities will be required.