BRUSSELS: The European Union has extended sanctions over the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation until 23 June 2022.

“The Council today decided to renew sanctions introduced in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation for a further year until 23 June 2022. The restrictive measures currently in place include target EU imports of products originating in Crimea or Sevastopol, and infrastructural or financial investments and tourism services in Crimea or Sevastopol. Exports of certain goods and technologies to Crimean companies or for use in Crimea in the transport, telecommunications and energy sectors or for the prospection, exploration and production of oil, gas and mineral resources are also subject to EU restrictions,” reads the statement by the Council of the EU published on Monday.

The EU introduced restrictions against Crimea and its residents in June 2014 in response to what Brussels calls "the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol". The sanctions ban European companies from maintaining business with Crimean enterprises, bar European air carriers from operating flights to and from Crimea and ships from visiting Crimean ports, impose a complete trade blockade on the peninsula, and prohibits EU countries from issuing visas to Crimea’s residents holding Russian passports.

The package of sanctions is extended every year without debate because the EU stated in 2014 that the restrictions would remain effective as long as Crimea was part of Russia.