European Union: Export Controls & Trade & Investment Sanctions

Swedish courts have taken unprecedented action by ordering the formal seizure of the cargo ship Caffa, allegedly used to transport grain from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.

Collating the outcomes published in the weekly reports by Estonia’s Tax and Customs Board (see our earlier post for the period from 14 October 2025 to 13 January 2026), reveals the following data...

French President Macron has announced the seizure of the tanker Tagor in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 400 nautical miles west of France. The vessel, which was en route from Murmansk and suspected of sailing under a false flag, was intercepted in international waters with support from the British Royal Navy.

RAM prices have surged over 500% since October 2025, driven by AI data centres consuming global memory chip supplies. This analysis examines the contractual implications for enterprises with multi-year hardware agreements, exploring price adjustment mechanisms, specification flexibility, and termination rights when market conditions shift dramatically.

The Bureau for Investment Screening has released its 2025 annual report, revealing a continued rise in investment notifications amid heightened geopolitical tensions and global competition for critical technologies. With 91 investigations conducted and new enforcement actions taken, including the first administrative fine for non-compliance, the report highlights the evolving landscape of Dutch economic security measures and the expanding scope of the Vifo Act.

Latvia's Customs Service has released enforcement statistics revealing hundreds of sanctions violations detected in the first quarter of 2026, including stopped shipments to Russia and Belarus, prevented cash exports, and initiated criminal prosecutions. The data provides insight into the scale and nature of sanctions evasion attempts being intercepted at Latvia's borders.

Boards face a new reality where volatility is the baseline, not the exception. Trade measures, regulatory shifts, cyber threats and geopolitical instability now shape markets continuously, exposing weaknesses in traditional governance models that treat external risk as periodic review items rather than standing strategic inputs. High-performing boards are moving from reactive crisis response to disciplined, repeatable resilience governance that protects enterprise value and preserves strategic choice.

The Survey on External Financial Statistics (EFS) is a mandatory quarterly reporting requirement for selected Cyprus entities conducting cross-border financial transactions. Understanding the legal framework, submission deadlines, and potential penalties is crucial for compliance with Central Bank of Cyprus regulations and avoiding fines that can exceed €85,000.

German Customs has issued a press release announcing raids as part of investigations into the suspected Russian exports by three separate companies. A total of 14 residential and commercial properties were raided in the Rhine-Main area.