Which European countries decided to ban entry of Russian cars?

After explanations from the EU authorities about the ban on the import of cars, a number of countries stopped allowing cars with Russian license plates. Which states have decided on the interpretation of sanctions and where they can confiscate the cars of Russians - in the RBC review

On September 8 , the European Commission clarified the rules for applying existing sanctions. They indicated that entry into the EU countries with personal vehicles (customs code 8703 - vehicles for transporting less than ten people) registered in RUSSIA would be regarded as prohibited imports , even if they are used for personal purposes and not for commercial purposes. Exceptions are made for EU citizens and their immediate families. On September 12, the European Commission added to its clarification that Russian cars can be used to circumvent sanctions, which explains the increased attention to them.

A representative of the European Commission clarified to RBC that each EU country will decide for itself how to implement the sanctions ; the explanation of the European Commission is not legally binding. Russia shares land borders with five EU member countries: Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Lithuania and Poland. There is also a land border with Norway, which is not a member of the EU, but participates in the Schengen Agreement. Which countries have already made a decision - in the RBC material.

Estonia

Prohibition: yes.

Estonia banned the entry of cars with Russian registration from 10:00 (which coincides with Moscow time) on September 13. The ban on the entry of vehicles applies regardless of the basis on which the owner or user is in Estonia or the European Union, state television and radio EER reported. Commenting on the decision, the country's Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said that Estonia “considers it necessary to use all opportunities to increase the cost of aggression for Russia.”

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If a car with Russian license plates arrives at an Estonian border checkpoint, the user or owner of the vehicle will have to return to Russia along with the car or cross the border without it, EER indicated. The publication also emphasized that vehicles with Russian license plates are allowed to leave Estonia. However, the final decision on what will be done with the cars already in the country has not yet been made - Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna promised to raise this issue with the government on September 14. “We must discuss whether the cars with Russian license plates that are already here should be sent back to Russia or whether they should be confiscated,” Postimees reports Tsahkna as saying.

The HEAD of the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lauri Läänemets, said on September 14 that cars with Russian license plates should not be driven in Estonia - they should be confiscated or re-registered. “If these cars are constantly moving here, then maybe they should be registered in Estonia?” he said, emphasizing that this was his personal opinion and not the government’s position. According to the head of the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the European Commission believes that such cars cannot be released from Europe - this will be considered “the movement of goods under sanctions.”

Buses and motorcycles with Russian license plates will be able to enter Estonia; the ban does not apply to them, RIA Novosti reported, citing Ants Kutti, a representative of the Estonian Tax and Customs Department.

Finland

Prohibition : yes.

The Finnish Foreign Ministry announced a ban on the entry of cars with Russian license plates on September 15. The restriction comes into force from midnight on September 16th. At the same time, the authorities will not confiscate those already in the country, said the head of the Finnish Foreign Ministry, Elina Valtonen. Cars that previously arrived in the country and have Russian registration must be exported before March 16, 2024.

In the first days after the publication of the European Commission’s clarification, cars with Russian license plates could still enter Finland, Yle reported. Finnish customs announced on September 11 that, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is analyzing the explanations of the European Commission and, while the issue is being considered, will adhere to the interpretation adopted before September 8.

On September 10, the Russian Embassy in Helsinki recommended that Russians refrain from using vehicles with Russian license plates when visiting Finland.

Helsinki introduced restrictions on the entry and transit of Russian citizens to other Schengen countries in September 2022 until further notice. You can only enter the country on a number of grounds - for example, holders of work visas or family members of EU citizens.

Latvia

Prohibition : yes.

Latvia stopped allowing cars with Russian license plates across the border with Russia and Belarus from 18:00 local time (coinciding with Moscow time) on September 12. The ban does not apply to motor transport companies registered in Russia that carry out transit transportation of goods across the territory of the European Union between the Kaliningrad region and Russia, the Delfi publication points out with reference to the customs department of the State Revenue Service of Latvia.

If the driver refuses to follow the instructions of the customs authority, including returning to Russia or Belarus, his car may be confiscated, the department noted.

Lithuania

Prohibition : yes.

Lithuania will not allow cars with Russian license plates, except when they are heading to Kaliningrad, LRT reported, citing the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry. “At the moment, Russian citizens can only cross the border if they have the right to do so - either by bus or on foot,” said Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Jovita Neliupsiene. Those traveling to Kaliningrad by personal transport will need to provide supporting transit documents, the deputy head of the Foreign Ministry added, without specifying which documents we are talking about. Otherwise, Russian cars entering the country will be confiscated, said the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic, Agne Bilotaite.

Since Lithuania introduced the ban, its customs officers have not allowed 19 cars with Russian license plates into the country, BNS reported, citing a Lithuanian customs representative.

Poland

Prohibition : yes.

Poland has banned the entry into its territory of passenger cars registered in Russia since September 17. The ban applies to all cars, regardless of whether the owner is a citizen of Russia or another country, emphasized the head of the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mariusz Kaminski. “The rule is this: a car registered in Russia has no right to enter Poland,” he said.

Poland closed traffic for trucks from Russia on June 1. The restriction is in effect until further notice. Prior to this, the State Duma called for a ban on Polish trucks moving through Russian territory. On June 30, the Russian government adopted a corresponding ban, with the exception of the transportation of critical goods by truck.

Norway

Prohibition: yes.

Norway has become the last Schengen country bordering Russia to decide to introduce such a ban. It will come into force on October 3. “It is important that sanctions are effective so that, as far as possible, we prevent the flow of revenue that the Russian state needs,” said the country's Foreign Minister Anniken Hutfeldt.

The restriction will not affect vehicles carrying more than ten passengers, including minibuses. Also, the Norwegian authorities made an exception for diplomatic transport, the use of a car for humanitarian reasons (acute illness, death , funeral of a relative). The ban will not affect cars owned by citizens of Norway or European Economic Area countries permanently residing in Russia and members of their families.

Germany

Prohibition : yes.

Germany, even before the publication of the European Commission’s clarifications, regarded entry into the country in a personal car from Russia as grounds for arresting the car. “In this context, the expression “importation” actually covers any movement of goods or cargo. The embargo does not provide for exceptions to the ban for the circumstances you specified,” said the response of a representative of the central information office of the Main Directorate of Customs of the Federal Republic of Germany to RBC’s request in July. Then several Russian citizens faced the seizure of their cars in Germany. On September 12, German customs again indicated that Germany would not make exceptions to EU sanctions for Russians entering the country.

Could, in theory, something else be taken away?

The first version of the European Commission’s clarification dated September 8 stated that not only Russian cars, but also personal goods, of which there are many on the sanctions list (in particular, smartphones, laptops, precious stones, cosmetics, hygiene products, etc.) may not be allowed to be imported into the EU. etc.).

However, already on September 12, she softened the ban on the import of personal items: “goods that cause minor concern from the point of view of circumventing sanctions, such as personal hygiene items or clothing, both worn by a visitor and in his luggage,” will not be in focus of attention of national customs authorities, followed from the new interpretation of the EC. At the same time, the clarification did not say anything about smartphones, laptops and cameras, which are also included in the list. On September 13, a representative of the European Commission refused to answer RBC’s question whether, in theory, laptops, smartphones or cameras could be used to circumvent sanctions.