Why is the euro taken away from the Russians at the border of Finland

Russian tourists were excited by the news that customs officers who enter the territory of the Russian Federation from Finland take cash in euros. The situation was explained in the Finnish Customs Control Department.

Finnish customs officers reported that the whole point is in article 5i of the EU Council regulation, which prohibits the import of cash euros into the territory of the Russian Federation.

“It is prohibited to sell, deliver, transfer or export banknotes denominated in any official currency of a Member State [ЕС]to Russia or to any individual or legal entity, organization or body in Russia, including the government and the Central Bank of Russia, or for use in Russia,” the provision of this article is quoted RBC.

Exceptions are made only for EU citizens who bring euros into Russia “for personal use”, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps or international organizations.

The fact that you can lose money on the Finnish border became known the day before thanks to the story of Yuri from St. Petersburg, which published “Fontanka”. The man, passing through customs control, at the request of the Finnish representatives of the customs service, presented the cash he had, among which was the European currency. The euro was taken away from him, referring to the ban on their import to Russia, and the rest was returned.

At the same time, Yuri was offered a choice of two options – to transfer their euros to those who are now crossing the border and heading to Finland, or to leave the money at the customs office and pick it up during their next trip to Suomi. He agreed to the second option and received a document in his hands, which indicates how much and in what bills they took from him at the border.

Here is such a story. However, it can be repeated at the customs of any EU country. After all, the ban on the sale and supply of European currency in the Russian Federation is valid throughout the EU.

In general, those who are going to Europe can be advised, in order to avoid such situations on the way back, to put cash in euros into an account or change to another currency, for example, US dollars, the import restrictions of which are not yet in our country.

Alena Bodrienko.

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