Objective

EU sanctions (restrictive measures) are one of the Union's tools to promote the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The Council imposes EU restrictive measures (such as the freezing of funds and travel bans) through a CFSP Council Decision adopted by unanimity, which is notified to the persons and entities targeted by it. 

These include governments of non-EU countries because of their policies, entities (companies) providing the means to conduct the targeted policies, groups or organisations such as terrorist groups, as well as individuals supporting the targeted policies or involved in terrorist activities. The measures can then be challenged before the General Court of the European Union.  

This hybrid seminar will provide participants with detailed knowledge on the legal aspects of restrictive measures applied by the European Union, including the recent jurisprudence of the CJEU. Moreover, the EU guidelines on the implementation and evaluation of restrictive measures, as well as best practices in the implementation of such restrictive measures, will be analysed and placed within the wider international context of sanctions imposed by other governments and entities. Details about the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime will be presented, as well as how other jurisdictions are dealing with sanctions (UK, USA) and how they are placed within the current geopolitical setting. 

Key topics

• EU restrictive measures within the greater geo-political setting, including the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime and how other jurisdictions are dealing with sanctions (UK, USA)
• EU guidelines on restrictive measures and best practice regarding their implementation
• Practical implications and challenges faced with EU restrictive measures by various actors concerned with their application: national authorities (ministries of finance and FIUs) and national courts
• Recent case law of the EU courts on sanctions
• Judicial review of restrictive measures
• Procedural aspects of sanctions cases before the Courts of the European Union