Brussels, Jun 20 (IANS): The Council of the European Union here extended restrictive measures over issues concerning Crimea and Sevastopol until June 23, 2016.

According to a statement issued by the council on Friday, the sanctions include prohibitions on imports of products originating in Crimea or Sevastopol into the EU and investment in Crimea or Sevastopol.

What it means is that no Europeans nor EU-based companies can buy real estate or entities in Crimea and finance Crimean companies or supply related services, Xinhua reported.

Moreover, the sanctions prohibit EU tourism services in Crimea or Sevastopol, in particular, European cruise ships cannot call at ports in the Crimean peninsula, except in case of emergency.

Exports of certain goods and technologies to Crimean companies or for use in Crimea in the transport, telecommunications and energy sectors and related to the prospecting, exploration and production of oil, gas and mineral resources are also prohibited.

Technical assistance, brokering, construction or engineering services related to infrastructure in these sectors cannot be provided.

On March 18, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty to integrate Crimea and its city of Sevastopol into Russia, following a referendum which found that a large majority of Crimeans supported the affiliation.

Ukraine and major western countries, however, have not recognised the move.