The European Parliament last week gave its initial approval for a new set of rules that could “overhaul” the bloc’s customs system, including by creating a single Customs Data Hub that will allow traders to submit all customs information on imports (see 2305170031). Parliament -- which adopted the “first reading position” for the rules 486-19, with 97 abstentions -- will continue discussing the changes after the upcoming parliamentary elections in June.

The Group of 7 nations last week warned Iran to “immediately” stop sending weapons and important technology to Russia, or it will “face severe costs.”

The EU should impose more sanctions against Venezuela for the Nicolas Maduro regime’s attacks against civil society and political opposition figures, the European Parliament said in a resolution this week. The resolution, approved 497-22, with 27 abstentions, said the bloc should increase sanctions on “high-level officials, members of the security forces, members of the regime’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice and Maduro himself” for their role in “imprisoning hundreds of political prisoners.”

The EU on March 13 removed 12 names from its Russian sanctions regime, including nine Russian political and military figures who have died. The three living de-listed people are Arkady Volozh, a Russian businessman and co-founder of internet company Yandex; Serguey Mndoiants, vice president of government relations for AFK Sistema; and Jozef Hambalek, president of the European wing of the Night Wolves motorcycle club. The EU also amended the entries for 97 people and nine entities.

The European Council and European Parliament reached a provisional deal March 14 to update the rules on the "import, export and transit of firearms into and from the EU," the council announced. The rules seek to close loopholes for firearms trafficking while boosting trade of firearms for "legitimate purposes," the council said.

The U.K. soon will update export controls on various military and dual-use technologies, which will align the country's rules with changes recently made by the multilateral Wassenaar Arrangement, the Australia Group, the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime. The U.K. also will introduce new controls on "specific emerging technologies" that it has "committed to implement" alongside other "like-minded countries," the Department for Business and Trade said March 12.

The European Council on March 12 extended for another six months, until Sept. 15, sanctions on those undermining the sovereignty of Ukraine. The restrictions include an asset freeze on over 2,100 people and entities. The council also decided not to renew the restrictions on three individuals and dropped nine deceased individuals from the list.

The European Parliament this week voted to approve new rules that could require member states to treat sanctions violations as criminal offenses, leading to harsher penalties and possible prison time (see 2312120059).

The U.K. on March 12 excluded mats made of glass fiber filaments from the countervailing duty order on continuous filament glass fiber products from Egypt. The Department for International Trade made the change following a Trade Remedies Authority recommendation to exclude the goods. CVD will still cover chopped glass fiber strands 50 mm or less in length and glass fiber rovings, excluding glass fiber rovings that are "impregnated and coated and have a loss on ignition of more than 3%."

Members of the European Parliament this week disagreed on the best path forward for new EU-wide supply chain due diligence rules, although an official with the Belgian presidency said it believes the EU can reach a compromise before the end of the current parliament’s term in April.