RBC: The EU has banned Russian citizens from importing personal cars and smartphones

Russian citizens cannot import a number of personal belongings and vehicles into the European Union, according to clarifications from the European Commission (EC). The EU authority has confirmed the interpretation of the sanctions legislation, according to which the entry into the European Union of passenger cars registered in the Russian Federation is regarded as a prohibited import, writes RBC.

“It does not matter whether the vehicle is used for private or commercial purposes, as long as it falls under the customs codes listed in Annex XXI (including code 8703) and originates in or is exported from Russia,” the EC’s new clarifications say.

To the question whether Russians can temporarily bring with them to the EU personal belongings and vehicles listed in Appendix XXI to Art. 3i, the European Union, the EC responded negatively. They added that the period for which a car with Russian license plates is imported, as well as the customs procedure, do not matter. Personal items such as smartphones, jewelry and laptops are also prohibited from importing, the publication clarifies.

In July, the Russian Embassy in Germany called on Russians to refrain from traveling to Germany amid several cases of German authorities confiscating cars registered in Russia. Berlin then referred to Art. 3i of the EU Council Regulation of July 31, 2014, which prohibits the sale and import into EU countries of a number of goods, including cars, if they are produced in Russia or exported from the country. The German authorities claimed that Russians entering the country in private cars violated the German Foreign Trade Law.

In September the embassy stated that continues record individual cases of German customs officers confiscating cars from Russians. Citizens are again charged with violating the German Foreign Trade Law, and arguments that we are not talking about the import of goods for sale are “not taken into account.”

“The demarches undertaken by the Embassy and consular missions at the German Foreign Ministry, at the level of the leadership of the land authorities, customs authorities and the prosecutor’s office have not yet led to a settlement of the problem in the legal field,” the embassy said in a statement.

They added that until the situation is clarified, Russian citizens should refrain from importing cars with Russian license plates into Germany, and called on victims to report cases of confiscation.