LUXEMBOURG, June 23. /ITAR-TASS/. The EU Council has decided to ban the import of goods from Crimea to the European Uninon, Foreign Minister of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius said.

EU Council will consider “the strategy for non-recognition of Crimea's accession to Russia” on June 23. The European Commission estimates the legal consequences Crimea’s separation from Ukraine and offers a set of economic, trade and financial restrictions.

In particular, the EU plans to ban the import of wine and other goods from Crimea in connection with sanctions against Russia. However, Crimean wines were not delivered to the European Union.

Earlier, the source from the European Commission said that the EU had no plans to fully ban goods from Crimea, a former Ukrainian region that reunified with Russian in mid-March. The statement came shortly before the signing of a free trade agreement between Ukraine and the EU scheduled to take place May 27 on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels. The goods won't have Ukrainian marking, quality certificate or documents on compliance with veterinary and phytosanitary norms, which make it impossible for them to enjoy EU trade preferences. Earlier a source in the European External Action Service said the EU will only allow Ukraine-certified goods from Crimea to its market.

 

Crimea's incorporation by Russia

Instability embraced Ukraine after a coup occurred in the country in February. Security concerns caused President Viktor Yanukovych to leave the country the same month.

The Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, a city with a special status on the Crimean Peninsula, where most residents are Russians, refused to recognize the legitimacy of the authorities brought to power by the coup.

Crimea and Sevastopol adopted declarations of independence on March 11. They held a referendum on March 16, in which 96.77% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Putin signed the reunification deals March 18.