Sanctions

Definition of sanctions
Sanctions are restrictive measures on trade adopted by the UN and the EU against countries and/or individual persons, groups, legal entities, bodies, etc. The extent of the trade restrictions varies, but restrictions most often encompass a weapons embargo, entry ban and imposition of freezing of funds and economic resources. In some cases, sanctions also involve a ban on import and export of other products than weapons.

Reasons for imposing sanctions
The UN Security Council adopts resolutions on sanctions, and the EU passes regulations on sanctions where a country or a person persistently violates international conventions and agreements, for instance human rights. A country may become subject to sanctions if the country is involved in a war or civil war, including breaches of ceasefire agreements.

Financial sanctions
Financial sanctions are defined as restrictions on free access by designated individuals or entities to any funds and economic resources owned or controlled by physical or legal persons, groups or entities appearing in the annexes to the EU regulations. All funds and economic resources must be frozen. No financial funds or economic resources may be made available to designated persons or entities. Neither may financial services be supplied to designated persons or entities.

Sanctions against terrorism
As a response to the terrorist attacks in the USA on 11 September 2001, the EU passed a number of legislative initiatives relating to terrorism. In connection with this, the EU passed legislative acts relating to terrorism in general and also specifically directed against Al-Qaida and the Taliban. The basis of this legislation was provided partly by UN Security Council Resolution 1373 on combating terrorism generally (S/RES/1373/2001), partly by Resolution 1267 (S/RES/1267/1999) on Al-Qaida and the Taliban. The sanctions involve, among other things, requirement for freezing of funds and economic resources.

You may read more about the legal basis of the sanctions relating to the fight against terrorism and against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in the Guidelines on Financial Sanctions provided by the Danish Enterprise and Construction Authority.

The EU database on financial sanctions
The EU has established a database of all persons, groups, legal entities, bodies etc. subject to EU financial sanctions. The EU Commission keeps the database up to date on a running basis. You can find a link to the database under ‘External links’ on the right side of the page.

Current sanctions
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website provides a comprehensive list of all sanctions currently in force pursuant to UN resolutions and EU legal acts. You can find a link to the website under ‘External links’ on the right side of the page.

Webcontent managerDorthe Gjedsted Robdrup