[ripe-list] Sanctions and the RIPE NCC: Current Status and Executive Board Position

Dear colleagues,

The Executive Board has been working with the RIPE NCC to find a solution regarding the applicability of EU sanctions to its members. As this has geopolitical implications for the RIPE NCC's wide and diverse service region, this is a matter we have been taking seriously for some time.

As part of this, the RIPE NCC is in contact with the Dutch Government to seek a permanent exemption for its services from all current and future EU sanctions.

The links to the minutes and the resolutions from the two recent board meetings where this was discussed were published today. I would now like to briefly outline the current situation and expand on the board's position.

WHERE WE STAND CURRENTLY

We were recently alerted to the fact that two RIPE NCC members in Iran and one in Syria are believed to be on the EU sanctions list. These members have now been notified that provision of services to them has been frozen and the RIPE NCC will initiate an audit of the relevant accounts, pending a response from the Dutch Government. This means that their resources will not be deregistered, but the RIPE NCC will also not process requests on their behalf.

The intent here is to ensure the RIPE NCC is taking appropriate steps to comply with any relevant sanctions in accordance with its obligations under Dutch law. That being said, the board will defend its belief that the RIPE NCC's services should not be covered by sanctions. 

As the RIPE NCC's bank also needs to ensure its own compliance with sanctions, it has temporarily revoked the RIPE NCC's ability to receive direct payments from members in Syria and Iran.

The RIPE NCC will contact these members directly to explain this in more detail. The recent decision to extend the payment period for membership fees in light of the COVID-19 pandemic eases some of the time pressure on members to pay for now, and we anticipate this issue will be resolved once we have clarity from the Dutch Government.

THE BOARD'S POSITION

I would now like to share the board's position more generally.

A board resolution from 2014 states the following: "The Executive Board of the RIPE NCC believes that the means of communication should not be affected by political discussions or disputes. This includes the provision of correctly registered Internet numbering resources." This is probably the clearest statement of our position, which has not changed since then.

The board wishes to caution against measures applied in pursuit of short-term public policy objectives that may undermine the wider Internet governance system, which is essential to the stability of the global Internet. This is a system which is fundamentally based on cooperation.

We also believe that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the Internet is a critical tool for meeting the essential needs of humanity. We are committed to minimising the impact of any action that would limit people's ability to access this important global network.

If you have questions for the Board, please contact us at <exec-board at ripe.net>. 

Regards

Christian Kaufmann
RIPE NCC Executive Board Chairman