THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 215 thereof,
Having regard to Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP of 17 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine,
Having regard to the joint proposal of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and of the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 gives effect to certain measures provided for in Decision 2014/145/CFSP and provides for the freezing of funds and economic resources of natural persons responsible for, actively supporting or implementing, actions or policies which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, or stability or security in Ukraine or which obstruct the work of international organisations in Ukraine, and natural or legal persons, entities or bodies associated with them; legal persons, entities or bodies supporting, materially or financially, actions which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine; legal persons, entities or bodies in Crimea or Sevastopol whose ownership has been transferred contrary to Ukrainian law, or legal persons, entities or bodies which have benefitted from such a transfer; or natural or legal persons, entities or bodies actively supporting, materially or financially, or benefitting from, Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea or the destabilisation of Eastern Ukraine.
(2)
On 8 September 2014, the Council agreed to expand restrictive measures with a view to targeting individuals or entities conducting transactions with the separatist groups in the Donbass region of Ukraine. The Council adopted Decision 2014/658/CFSP which amends Decision 2014/145/CFSP and provides for amended listing criteria to that end.
(3)
That measure falls within the scope of the Treaty and, therefore, in particular with a view to ensuring its uniform application in all Member States, regulatory action at the level of the Union is necessary in order to implement it.
(4)
Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(5)
In order to ensure that the measures provided for in this Regulation are effective, it should enter into force immediately,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: