EU SANCTIONS RENEWED AGAINST 16 INDIVIDUALS AND A FURTHER 19 INDIVIDUALS AND 9 ENTITIES ADDED TO THE LIST

EU Sanctions renewed against 16 individuals and a further 19 individuals and 9 entities added to the list

The Council of the EU today announced its intention to re-list 16 individuals who are sanctioned as a result of the continuing situation in Ukraine. In addition, the Council of the EU added a further 19 individuals and 9 entities to the sanctions list – again in relation to the situation in Ukraine.

Those individuals who are facing re-listing have been given until 20 February 2015 to respond and make any representations to the Council. The Council have amended the reasons given for their listing.

The EU sanctions regime is an opaque process and in Gherson’s experience of dealing with these cases individuals may find themselves subject to sanctions on very flimsy grounds. These sanctions are renewed annually and, as can be seen, the window of time for individuals to make their representations is extremely narrow.

Those who find themselves on the sanctions list for the first time will now have only two months to make any application to annul at the Courts of the European Union. This process is legally complex and extremely slow.

Sanctions remain the weapon of choice of the US and EU at present and anyone who is wrongly made subject to them will quickly realise the devastating effect they can have – not only to the listed individuals or entities concerned but also to their family and business associates. Anyone who finds themselves subject to sanctions or fears they may be targeted should take expert advice as a matter of urgency.