EU Adopts Human Rights Sanctions Regime
The Council of the European Union adopted its long-awaited human rights sanctions regime (see 2010210008), giving the EU the ability to designate people and entities that commit crimes against humanity or other “serious human rights violations,” the EU said Dec. 7. The regime will allow the EU to impose travel bans and asset freezes on violators and will block people and entities in the EU from “making funds available” to entries on the sanctions list, either “directly or indirectly,” the EU said.
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Although the EU has already designated more than 200 people and entities for human rights violations using its preexisting authorities, the new regime will allow it to target violators “worldwide, irrespective of where they occur, whereas existing sanctions regimes focus on specific countries,” the EU said in a memorandum. The EU said the regime contains humanitarian-related authorizations and member states will likely issue certain exceptions. “These sanctions, as all EU sanctions, should not impede the supply of humanitarian aid, including medical assistance,” the memorandum said. “Specific exceptions for humanitarian purposes are foreseen.”
The council’s decision comes nearly a year after the EU first began preparing the regime (see 1912100046) and amid repeated calls from EU lawmakers and member states for sanctions against China for human rights violations in Hong Kong and Xinjiang (see 2007270017 and 2004020016). The council’s adoption also comes about five months after the United Kingdom established its human rights sanctions regime as it prepares to leave the EU next year (see 2007060025).
Under the EU’s regime, the council will have the power to create, review and revise sanctions entries after receiving a proposal from a member state or the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, the council said. The EU said the regime emphasizes that human rights “remain a cornerstone and priority of EU external action.”
The State Department applauded the EU's announcement, calling the regime a “groundbreaking accomplishment” and saying it will “complement” U.S. sanctions. “Europe will have a steadfast partner in the United States on this program, and we encourage the EU to adopt its first designations as soon as possible,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Dec. 7.