Sanctions against Iran

Press release - Human rights breaches in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Iran

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 8, 2021

While urging the Chinese authorities to repeal the draconian national security law introduced last year, MEPs encourage EU countries to impose sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for serious violations of human rights and international law in Hong Kong under the EU human rights sanctions regime.

Key Points: 
  • While urging the Chinese authorities to repeal the draconian national security law introduced last year, MEPs encourage EU countries to impose sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for serious violations of human rights and international law in Hong Kong under the EU human rights sanctions regime.
  • While urging the countrys authorities to genuinely abolish the death penalty for these offenders, the resolution strongly supports EU sanctions against Saudi officials responsible for grave human rights violations.
  • All EU exports of mass surveillance technology and other dual-use items to Saudi Arabia should be suspended, say MEPs.
  • The resolution also calls on Iran to stop threatening Dr Djalalis family in both Sweden and Iran.

Federprivacy Data Protection Research: In 2020 Fines Reach €307 Million in Europe

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 18, 2021

Then the Italian data protectionauthority with 35 fines, and the Romanian authority (ANSPDCP) with 26 sanctions.

Key Points: 
  • Then the Italian data protectionauthority with 35 fines, and the Romanian authority (ANSPDCP) with 26 sanctions.
  • There is a different perspective if we consider the economic value of the sanctions instead of their number.
  • These are only some of the different figures that are itemized in the Federprivacy report.
  • Telecommunications has been the second in this list with 62,400,000, and business the third with 38,100,000.

Federprivacy Data Protection Research: In 2020 Fines Reach €307 Million in Europe

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 18, 2021

Then the Italian data protectionauthority with 35 fines, and the Romanian authority (ANSPDCP) with 26 sanctions.

Key Points: 
  • Then the Italian data protectionauthority with 35 fines, and the Romanian authority (ANSPDCP) with 26 sanctions.
  • There is a different perspective if we consider the economic value of the sanctions instead of their number.
  • These are only some of the different figures that are itemized in the Federprivacy report.
  • Telecommunications has been the second in this list with 62,400,000, and business the third with 38,100,000.

Syrian foreign affairs minister added to EU sanctions list

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, January 16, 2021

The Council today decided to add Faisal Mekdad to the list of persons subject to EU restrictive measures on Syria, in light of his recent appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Key Points: 
  • The Council today decided to add Faisal Mekdad to the list of persons subject to EU restrictive measures on Syria, in light of his recent appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
  • This decision brings to 289 the total number of persons targeted by a travel ban and an asset freeze.
  • The sanctions currently in place against the Syrian regime were introduced in 2011, in response to the violent repression of the Syrian civilian population.
  • Companies and prominent business people who benefit from their ties with the regime and from the war economy are also subject to sanctions.

Eight Syrian ministers added to EU sanctions list

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, November 7, 2020

The Council today decided to add eight members of the Syrian regime to the list of persons subject to EU restrictive measures on Syria, in light of their recent ministerial appointments.

Key Points: 
  • The Council today decided to add eight members of the Syrian regime to the list of persons subject to EU restrictive measures on Syria, in light of their recent ministerial appointments.
  • The sanctions currently in place against the Syrian regime were introduced in 2011, in response to the violent repression of the Syrian civilian population.
  • Companies and prominent business people who benefit from their ties with the regime and from the war economy are also subject to sanctions.
  • Any decision to prolong the sanctions is for the Council to take on an annual basis.

Syria: 7 new ministers added to the EU sanctions list

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, October 17, 2020

Today's decision brings to 280 the number of persons targeted by a travel ban and an asset freeze.

Key Points: 
  • Today's decision brings to 280 the number of persons targeted by a travel ban and an asset freeze.
  • 70 entities are also listed and, as such, are subject to an assets freeze.
  • The sanctionscurrently in place against the Syrian regime wereintroduced in 2011, in response to the violent repression of the Syrian civilian population.
  • Any decision to prolong the sanctions is for the Council to take on an annual basis.

Use of chemical weapons in the assassination attempt on Alexei Navalny: EU sanctions six individuals and one entity

Retrieved on: 
Friday, October 16, 2020

The decision follows the political agreement reached by the Foreign Affairs Council on 12 October 2020.

Key Points: 
  • The decision follows the political agreement reached by the Foreign Affairs Council on 12 October 2020.
  • The adopted restrictive measures consist of a travel ban to the EU and an asset freeze for individuals, and an asset freeze for the entity.
  • In addition, EU persons and entities are forbidden from making funds available to those listed.
  • With the new designations, there are 15 persons and 2 entities listed under the chemical weapons sanctions regime.

EU sanctions regime for chemical weapons renewed for one year

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 13, 2020

The Council today decided to extend the regime allowing the EU to impose restrictive measures on persons and entities involved in the development and use of chemical weapons by one year, until 16 October 2021.

Key Points: 
  • The Council today decided to extend the regime allowing the EU to impose restrictive measures on persons and entities involved in the development and use of chemical weapons by one year, until 16 October 2021.
  • The sanctions regime was introduced in 2018 as a follow-up to the conclusions of the European Council of 28 June 2018.
  • The objective was to counter the proliferation and use of chemical weapons, which pose a serious threat to international security.
  • The objective of the EU sanctions regime is to support the global prohibition of chemical weapons as laid down by the Chemical Weapons Convention, at a moment when chemical attacks are increasing in various parts of the world.

Libya: EU imposes additional sanctions for human rights abuses and arms embargo violations

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 22, 2020

The Council today decided to impose targeted restrictive measures on two persons responsible for human rights abuses in Libya and three entities involved in violating the UN arms embargo in place for Libya.

Key Points: 
  • The Council today decided to impose targeted restrictive measures on two persons responsible for human rights abuses in Libya and three entities involved in violating the UN arms embargo in place for Libya.
  • The sanctions imposed comprise a travelbanand anasset freeze for natural persons, and an asset freeze for entities.
  • The EU has repeatedly called on all parties to respect human rights and international law and is committed to holding anyone violating them accountable.
  • The EU's sanctions complement and reinforce the sanctions adopted by the UN, which include an arms embargo and individual measures, including for human rights abuses.

EU imposes the first ever sanctions against cyber-attacks

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 31, 2020

The sanctions imposed include a travel ban and an asset freeze.

Key Points: 
  • The sanctions imposed include a travel ban and an asset freeze.
  • In addition, EU persons and entities are forbidden from making funds available to those listed.
  • Sanctions are one of the options available in the EUs cyber diplomacy toolbox to prevent, deter and respond to malicious cyber activities directed against the EU or its member states, and today is the first time the EU has used this tool.
  • In June 2017, the EU stepped up its response by establishing a Framework for a Joint EU Diplomatic Response to Malicious Cyber Activities (the "cyber diplomacy toolbox").