EU to apply sanctions on individuals, legal entities over migrant smuggling

The European Union has changed its sanctions regime in order to introduce restrictive measures against individuals and legal entities organizing the illegal transport of migrants to the territory of the European Union or assisting the authorities in Belarus, Report informs, citing the EU Council.

Now the EU will be able to prosecute individuals and legal entities organizing the illegal crossing of the external borders of the EU or facilitating the activities of the Lukashenko regime, which contributes to the illegal crossing of the external borders of the EU, the statement read.

Airlines transporting refugees to Minsk may fall under the new sanctions.

The EU earlier announced its intention to expand sanctions against Belarus due to the migration crisis on the border with Poland.