BRUSSELS, September 15. /TASS /. The Council of the European Union has approved the extension of sanctions related to the black list of individuals and organizations of Russia and Ukraine until March 15, 2017, a source with the EU Council told TASS.

The decision is formal because on September 7 the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) brought the political verdict to extend the sanctions.

"The decision to extend the effect of the list of sanctioned individuals and legal entities of the Russian Federation and Ukraine for six months was made in written form and will enter into force upon publication in the Official Journal of the European Union on September 16. The restrictive measures have been extended to March 15, 2017," he said.

To date, the black list consists of 146 people and 37 organizations. The last time its effect was extended for six months on March 9. The list includes representatives of the Russian leadership, Russian politicians, businessmen and security officials, as well as almost all members of the leadership proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republic (DNR and LNR). In addition, the list comprised 37 organizations, including all known military and political structure of the DNR and LNR. European businesses were not allowed to maintain any relations with them.

The black list for Russia and Ukraine is the only one of the three independent packages of EU sanctions. In addition to it sectoral economic sanctions are effective until the end of January of 2017, trade and travel restrictions with regard to the Crimea are effective until the end of June 2017 as part of the EU Strategy non-recognition of the Crimea as part of Russia.

At the EU summit in October a detailed discussion on relations with Russia is planned. At this meeting the EU officials will discuss the possibility of lifting or easing of the sanctions regime since the beginning of 2017.