The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU concluded last July that further consideration would be given to the possible designation of illegal armed militants in eastern Ukraine as terrorist organisations. Member States have discussed the matter but no decision has been taken to further pursue this option.

In order to designate an entity as involved in terrorist acts, a decision would be needed by a competent national authority in respect of the entity concerned. Any decision by the Council to list an entity as a terrorist group must be agreed by unanimity. The consequence of such a decision would be to freeze the assets of the entity in the EU and prohibit funds being made available to it from the EU.

In the framework of the restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, the Council decided on 25 July 2014 to freeze any assets of the ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ and the ‘Lugansk People’s Republic’ in the EU and to prohibit funds being made available to it from the EU.