[ad_1]
EU member states agreed on Monday to criminalize evasion of sanctions. File photo courtesy of EU/EP/UPI | license photo
November 28 (UPI) — EU member states have unanimously agreed to add sanctions evasion to their list of EU crimes, as the bloc continues to seek ways to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine.
The 27-member bloc said it agreed on Monday to add breaches of curbs to the list of offenses set out in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The move is expected to ensure that member states have the same legal definition of what constitutes a breach of restrictions and what penalties should apply.
This is expected to allay concerns that varying levels of sanctions enforcement in each country could increase the risk of EU measures being circumvented, allowing designated individuals and companies to access their assets and support EU-targeted objectives.
The deal comes as the European Union approved an unprecedented number of sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine in late February.
The EU has imposed asset freezes and travel restrictions on 1,241 people and 118 entities since the Kremlin annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
The EU says the sanctions target Russia’s economy and aim to stop its ability to continue waging war.
Czech Republic Justice Minister Pavel Blazek said: “To be successful, their implementation requires a joint effort and today’s decision is an important tool to ensure that any attempts to circumvent these measures are stopped.” a statement.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, is now tasked with submitting a proposal on the definition of criminal offenses and penalties for non-compliance, which will then be discussed and adopted by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament.
[ad_2]
Source link