EU sanctions (restrictive measures) are one of the Union's tools to promote the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The Council imposes EU restrictive measures (such as the freezing of funds and travel bans) through a CFSP Council Decision adopted by unanimity, which is notified to the persons and entities targeted by it. 

These include governments of non-EU countries because of their policies, entities (companies) providing the means to conduct the targeted policies, groups or organisations such as terrorist groups, as well as individuals supporting the targeted policies or involved in terrorist activities. The measures can then be challenged before the General Court of the European Union.  

Key topics

• Update on the latest EU legal framework on restrictive measures and the confiscation of assets 
• EU guidelines on restrictive measures, countering their circumvention and assisting with enforcement
• Practical implications and challenges faced with EU restrictive measures by various actors concerned with their application
• Recent case law of the EU courts on sanctions
• Judicial review of restrictive measures
• Procedural aspects of  sanctions cases before the Courts of the European Union