Today, the European Union has finally approved European legal standards that set criminal liability and a system of penalties for violations of the sanctions imposed by the EU, as well as joint rules for liable for all Member States.
Such innovations were published today on the website of the European Council.
"The EU Council has approved a law that establishes uniform rules for persecution of violations of EU sanctions in all Member States. Now certain actions will be considered criminal offenses in all Member States, such as assistance in bypassing traveling, trade in goods under sanctions, or unlawful.
Member States should ensure that the violation of EU sanctions be punishable by effective and proportional punishments that depend on the nature and extent of the crime. Violation of EU sanctions at an international level can lead to a real punishment. Persons involved in violation of EU restrictions may also be subjected to different financial sanctions.
In addition, legal entities, such as companies, may be found guilty of violation of EU sanctions, if such actions by the executives of these organizations. Such violations can lead to licenses for business, cancellation of appropriate permits and restriction of economic transactions.
The new EU Directive will come into force 20 days after the publication in the EU's official newsletter, and Member States will have 12 months to implement these legal norms into their legislation.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union has applied 13 packages of individual and sectoral economic sanctions against Russia, which aims to limit the Kremlin's ability to finance its "War Machine".
Currently, up to 1,706 persons and 419 institutions to freeze assets and restrict the right to travel to the EU apply to Ukraine in connection with Russia's invasion of Russia.
