24.6.2014 Official Journal of the European Union L 183/9 COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) No 692/2014 of 23 June 2014 concerning restrictions on the import into the Union of goods originating in Crimea or Sevas- topol, in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 215 thereof, Having regard to Council Decision 2014/386/CFSP (*) concerning restrictions on goods originating in Crimea or Sevas- topol, in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, Having regard to the joint proposal of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and of the European Commission, Whereas: (1) At its meeting of 20-21 March 2014, the European Council strongly condemned the annexation of the Autono- mous Republic of Crimea (‘Crimea) and the city of Sevastopol (Sevastopol) to the Russian Federation and emphasised that it will not recognise the annexation. The European Council asked the Commission to evaluate the legal consequences of that annexation and to propose economic, trade and financial restrictions regarding Crimea for rapid implementation. (2)  In its Resolution of 27 March 2014, the United Nations General Assembly affirmed its commitment to the sover- eignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, underscoring the invalidity of the referendum held in Crimea on 16 March, and called upon all States not to recognise any alterations in the status of Crimea and of Sevastopol. (3)  On 23 June 2014, the Council adopted Decision 2014/386/CFSP concerning restrictions on goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol and on the provision, directly or indirectly, of financing or financial assistance, as well as insurance and reinsurance, related to the import of such goods, in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. In order to minimise the effect of such restrictive measures on economic operators, exceptions and transitional periods should be provided for in respect of trade in goods and related services for which trans- actions are required by a trade contract or ancillary contract, subject to a notification procedure. (4)  These measures fall within the scope of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and, therefore, notably with a view to ensuring their uniform application in all Member States, regulatory action at the level of the Union is necessary in order to implement them. (5) In order to ensure that the measures provided for in this Regulation are effective, it should enter into force on the day following that of its publication, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply: () ‘claim’ means any claim, whether asserted by legal proceedings or not, made before or after 25 June 2014, under or in connection with a contract or transaction, and includes in particular: (i) a claim for performance of any obligation arising under or in connection with a contract or transaction; (i) a claim for extension or payment of a bond, financial guarantee or indemnity of whatever form; (1) Council Decision 2014/386/CFSP of 23 June 2014 concerning restrictions on goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol, in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol (see page 70 of this Official Journal).