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We use cookies in order to ensure that you can get the best browsing experience possible on the Council website. Certain cookies are used to obtain aggregated statistics about website visits to help us constantly improve the site and better serve your needs. Other cookies are used to boost performance and guarantee security of the website. With your permission, we will use AT internet and Hotjar cookies to produce aggregated, anonymous data about our visitors' browsing and behaviour on our website. We will use this data to improve your experience on our website. To get more information about these cookies, how and why we use them and how you can change your settings, check our cookies policy page See more I accept cookies I refuse cookies Skip to content European Council Council of the European Union * MENU < Back * About the Institutions * The European Council * Charles Michel, President of the European Council * Members of the European Council * European Council conclusions More * The Council of the EU * What the Council does * Rotating presidency * Council configurations * Voting system More * Eurogroup * Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup * How the Eurogroup works More * Topics * Topics * Russia's war on Ukraine * Economy and finance * Security and defence More * EU Policies * EU response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine * Strategic agenda 2024-2029 * Migration and asylum policy More * Feature stories * The energy leap * The euro at 25 * The EU in your daily life More * Meetings * Meeting calendar * Future meetings * Past meetings * EU leader's meetings * Summits * European Council President's schedule * Ministerial and other meetings * Ministerial meetings * International ministerial meetings * Preparatory meetings * Voting results * Meeting agendas * News and media * Latest news * Press releases * European Council President's speeches and statements * Email subscription * Audiovisual resources * Videos and photos * Council live * Press service * Press contacts * Media accreditation * Research and publications * Research * Search for documents * Archives * Open data * PRADO More * Resources * Reports and publications * Infographics * Research papers * Educational resources * Council Library services * Research in the Council library * Think Tank Review * Online information resources Search Search Current language, EN * BG български * ES español * CS čeština * DA dansk * DE Deutsch * ET eesti * EL Ελληνικά * EN English * FR français * GA Gaeilge * HR hrvatski * IT italiano * LV latviešu * LT lietuvių * HU magyar * MT Malti * NL Nederlands * PL polski * PT português * RO română * SK slovenčina * SL slovenščina * FI suomi * SV svenska Menu * Home * Policies WHY THE EU ADOPTS SANCTIONS Sanctions are an instrument to prevent conflict or respond to emerging or current crises, and to promote peace, democracy, respect for the rule of law, human rights and international law. On this page * How and when the EU adopts sanctions * Humanitarian exemption * Violating sanctions is a crime HOW AND WHEN THE EU ADOPTS SANCTIONS Restrictive measures or 'sanctions' are an essential tool of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. They allow the EU to respond to global challenges and developments that go against its objectives and values. Decisions on sanctions are taken by the Council of the European Union by unanimity. EU sanctions are targeted and aim at those responsible for the policies or actions the EU wants to influence. They do not target a country or population. Sanctions are not punitive and instead seek to bring about a change in the policy or conduct of those targeted, with a view to promoting the objectives of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. These objectives include: safeguarding EU's values, fundamental interests and security supporting democracy, the rule of law, human rights and international law preserving peace, preventing conflicts and strengthening international security Sanctions may target governments of non-EU countries, non-state entities, groups and individuals, and consist of asset freezes and travel bans. The EU can also adopt economic sanctions and diplomatic measures. All restrictive measures adopted by the EU are fully compliant with obligations under international law, including those pertaining to humanitarian aid, human rights, and fundamental freedoms. GUIDELINES ON RESTRICTIVE MEASURES In 2004, the Political and Security Committee agreed on some basic principles on: * the use of sanctions * their implementation * how to measure and control their impact The best practices for the effective implementation of restrictive measures were last updated in 2022. The guidelines on the implementation and evaluation of restrictive measures were last updated in 2018. * Best practices for the effective implementation of restrictive measures (27 June 2022) * Guidelines on the implementation and evaluation of restrictive measures (4 May 2018) * Basic principles on the use of restrictive measures (7 June 2004) * Political and Security Committee (background information) HUMANITARIAN EXEMPTION EU sanctions are fully in line with international law, including international humanitarian law. On 9 December 2022, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 2664 (2022), which provides a “humanitarian carve-out” - a standing humanitarian exemption - to the asset freeze measures imposed by United Nations sanctions regimes. On 14 February 2023, the Council decided to introduce the humanitarian exemption pursuant to resolution 2664 in the UN sanctions regimes at EU level, and on 31 March 2023 introduced the humanitarian exemption in what is known as UN/EU mixed sanctions regimes in which EU measures complement sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council. Between 2023 and 2024, the Council further introduced the humanitarian exemption into certain restrictive measures regime, including the regimes established in view of the situations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Guinea, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Tunisia, Venezuela and Zimbabwe, and in relation to cyber-attacks and terrorism. These decisions demonstrate the EU’s steadfast determination to avoid unintended negative consequences of sanctions on humanitarian action, and the importance given to the full adherence to international law. * Humanitarian action: EU introduces further exception to sanctions (press release, 19 February 2024) * Humanitarian action: EU introduces further exceptions to sanctions to facilitate the delivery of assistance (press release, 27 November 2023) * Humanitarian action: EU introduces exemptions to sanctions to facilitate the delivery of assistance (press release, 31 March 2023) VIOLATING SANCTIONS IS A CRIME On 28 November 2022, the Council adopted a decision to add the violation of restrictive measures to the list of ‘EU crimes’ included in the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. This will avoid different degrees of enforcement of sanctions in member states and the risk of these measures being circumvented. Additionally, on 12 April 2024, the Council adopted new rules to make sure that the violation of restrictive measures is criminalised. Thanks to these new rules, certain actions are considered criminal offences in all member states, for example helping to bypass a travel ban, trading in sanctioned goods or performing prohibited financial activities. Inciting, aiding and abetting these offences can also be penalised. Member states must ensure that violating EU sanctions is punishable by effective and proportionate criminal penalties, which vary depending on the offence. However, intentional violation of sanctions must give rise to a prison sentence as the maximum penalty. * Council and Parliament reach political agreement to criminalise violation of EU sanctions (press release, 12 December 2023) * Sanctions: Council adds the violation of restrictive measures to the list of EU crimes (press release, 28 November 2022) * Council gives final approval to introduce criminal offences and penalties for EU sanctions' violation (press release, 12 April 2024) More information * Types of sanctions the EU adopts (background information) * How the EU adopts and reviews sanctions (background information) See also * EU sanctions (European External Action Service) * EU sanctions (European Commission) * EU sanctions map (website) * EU sanctions tracker (European Commission) Topics * Foreign affairs and international relations * Security and defence Share * Share on Facebook * Share on Twitter * Share on Linkedin * Copy the URL in your clipboard https://europa.eu/!Vnvqkf Copy Last review: 15 May 2024 About the secretariat * Public procurement * Careers * Traineeships * More Corporate policies * Data protection * Transparency * More Contact * How to get to the Council * Ask a question * Visit the Council * More Email subscription Sign up to receive our email and SMS alerts Login About this site This website is the official website of the Council of the EU and the European Council. 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