EU sanctions: what are they and how do they apply?

Date of the last update: 2nd March 2022
Source: European Comission

 

Restrictive measures (sanctions) are a key instrument of the European Union’s common foreign and security policy, through which it can intervene to prevent conflicts or react to emerging or ongoing crises. The case of the Russia-Ukraine conflict falls under the second point.
However, EU sanctions are not punitive and aim to promote a change of policy or activity, targeting entities and persons in third countries responsible for hostile behaviour.