EU bans transit of Belarusian fertilizers

This week, the European Union decided to ban the transit of Belarusian fertilizers through the territory of Lithuania. According to EU officials, such a ban is part of a sanctions regime that must be unanimously approved each year by the member states of the Union. In 2024, the deadline for deciding on the extension of sanctions against Minsk expired on February 28. This step is seen as a response to ongoing actions by Belarus that contradict the norms of the EU's foreign policy.

Context

Over recent years, the EU has maintained a number of sanctions against Belarus, including export-import restrictions and economic support limitations.