EU Court Rejects Unicredit’s Request to Suspend Russian Operations

Brussels (Eurotoday) – The EU General Court has rejected UniCredit’s request to suspend the ECB’s order to reduce its Russian operations.

Why did the EU General Court reject UniCredit’s request?How is the ECB addressing UniCredit’s Russian operations concerns?

Reuters has reported that the European Union’s General Court has declined UniCredit’s request to temporarily discontinue a European Central Bank order to scale back its presence in Russia. The EU’s General Court is a constituent part of the European Court of Justice.

Why did the EU General Court reject UniCredit’s request?

The document indicates that the ECB had considerations related to terrorism financing and financial sanctions in Russia and that it found in January last year that UniCredit’s actions were not enough to counterbalance the threats. One of the ECB’s situations was a lack of access to client information kept by UniCredit subsidiaries in Russia and the impossibility of seeing the offices there for reviews, according to a summary contained in the court document.

How is the ECB addressing UniCredit’s Russian operations concerns?

European Central Bank, the lender’s chief supervisor, urged UniCredit earlier this year to additionally scale down its functions in Russia, including imposing a prohibition on new deposits and regulations on handling payments. In 2023, it also requested the bank to regard the sale of the UniCredit subsidiaries in Russia, the document reveals.  

UniCredit, a pan-European Commercial Bank, requested the EU General Court to reject the demands, which CEO Andrea Orcel expressed could breach Russian laws. UniCredit had aimed to have the actions suspended while the court proceeding is pending, and in July stated that a decision on a suspension was expected “in the coming months”. The final proceedings for the issue are still pending.

UniCredit’s links to Russia date back to its obtaining a stake in International Moscow Bank, the first Russian lender to submit funds from foreign banking institutions. Following further modifications in ownership, it was renamed AO UniCredit Bank and in 2015 was included in the list of systemically significant banks by the Bank of Russia. When Russia overran Ukraine in 2022, UniCredit remained in Russia, one of two European banks along with Austria’s Raiffeisen to keep large operations in the country.


Comments

2 responses to “EU Court Rejects Unicredit’s Request to Suspend Russian Operations”

  1. jetta talent Avatar
    jetta talent

    Looks like UniCredit’s Russian operations are getting about as much love from the EU Court as a soggy baguette at a Michelin-starred restaurant. 🍞😏 Maybe they should have brought some proper bribes—oops, I mean “incentives,” to the table!

  2. troubadour Avatar

    Looks like UniCredit’s plans for a Russian vacation just got cancelled by the EU Court—who knew a bank could be so bad at following rules? 🤷‍♂️ Guess they’ll have to stick to nice, cozy coffee breaks in Brussels instead! ☕️✨

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

Spain Reaches Final by Seizing the Moment

Spain Reaches Final by Seizing the Moment

A 2-0 Semi-Final Victory Over France Sends Spain to the World Cup Final
Spain is one match away from claiming a second men’s World Cup title after a composed 2-0 semi-final win against France in Dallas. Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro turned tactical dominance into a spot in the final. The victory carries not just sporting significance, but also a broader European message: Spain’s youth, pa

Read More

Merz to MAGA: Stay Out of Europe’s Elections

Merz to MAGA: Stay Out of Europe’s Elections

The U.S. State Department on Monday initiated a nearly $5 million funding program aimed at enhancing democratic resilience, the rule of law, freedom of speech and press, and human rights protection in Europe. Recipients should tackle issues like national sovereignty, migration, censorship, and lawfare, aligning with shared political philosophies and Western heritage.
The Financial Times initially

Read More

Turkey’s Ousted Opposition Leader Prepares for Potential New Party Amid Political Crisis

Turkey’s Ousted Opposition Leader Prepares for Potential New Party Amid Political Crisis

Istanbul, July 15 Eurotoday Newspaper – Turkey opposition crisis intensified after ousted Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel confirmed that preparations are underway for a possible new political party if legal efforts to regain leadership do not succeed. His comments come as Turkey’s main opposition continues to face internal divisions following a court ruling that overturned the

Read More

EU Approves Extra Quota for 35,000 Tonnes of Mexican Honey

EU Approves Extra Quota for 35,000 Tonnes of Mexican Honey

After the European Parliament approved the updated trade deal between the EU and Mexico, Copa and Cogeca, representing European farmers and agricultural cooperatives, highlighted the new opportunities for EU agri-food exports presented by the agreement. They emphasized that its success relies on effective implementation and strict monitoring.
The organizations noted the potential for increased ma

Read More

It’s Keir Starmer’s last PMQs. Here’s how previous prime ministers handled it.

It’s Keir Starmer’s last PMQs. Here’s how previous prime ministers handled it.

Neil Kinnock of Labour wasn’t interested in exchanging pleasantries with Thatcher, questioning why her job contenders were “wriggling around trying to find a way out of the poll tax trap.” Britain’s first female prime minister, adjusting her statement, indicated she thought “they were keeping the poll … the community charge.” John Major abolished it the next year.
In Tony Blair’s final

Read More

The Maldives: Beyond a Honeymoon Destination

The Maldives: Beyond a Honeymoon Destination

The Maldives is a long way away and, for some, it may seem out of reach.
But, even so, one Belgian found her way there and then fell in love with the place. So much so, in fact, that she made it her home.
Isabelle Gobert works as Cluster Assistant Director of Marketing & Communication at Niva Dhigali, one of the Maldives’ leading resort islands.
In an exclusive Q&A with this site, she

Read More

Form 8.5 (EPT/RI) – Alternative Income REIT PLC

Form 8.5 (EPT/RI) – Alternative Income REIT PLC

FORM 8.5 (EPT/RI)
PUBLIC DEALING DISCLOSURE BY AN EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER WITH RECOGNISED INTERMEDIARY STATUS DEALING IN A CLIENT-SERVING CAPACITY Rule 8.5 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)
1.        KEY INFORMATION

(a)        Name of exempt principal trader:
Shore Capital Stockbrokers Ltd

(b)        Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:       

Read More

The Disappearance of the Border Overnight

The Disappearance of the Border Overnight

European allies are taking steps to bolster Ukraine as Kyiv increases its efforts in the conflict with Russia.
As part of these efforts, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and a team of EU leaders are making an unexpected visit to Kyiv to advance a series of new defense initiatives. Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart discuss the packages expected to be unveiled today.
Additionally, starting

Read More

MEPs Support EU Heart Health Strategy, but Critics Warn of Overlooking Core Disease Causes

MEPs Support EU Heart Health Strategy, but Critics Warn of Overlooking Core Disease Causes

The European Parliament’s Public Health Committee has adopted its response to the EU’s cardiovascular health plan, backing prevention, early detection, and action against risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
The report, approved on June 24 by 38 votes to two, with one abstention, responds to the European Commission’s Safe Hearts Plan, unveiled in December 2025. It calls for a coordinated E

Read More

EU Leverages Visa Policy on Guinea

EU Leverages Visa Policy on Guinea

The Council of the European Union has tightened Schengen visa procedures for Guinean nationals, citing insufficient cooperation from Conakry on the readmission of its citizens staying irregularly in EU member states. The decision, adopted on 10 July, highlights a broader European debate on using pressure on third-country governments for migration enforcement and its impact on ordinary travelers,

Read More