Answer given by Ms McGuinness on behalf of the European Commission
10.5.2022
Since 23 February 2022, a total of 898 individuals and 32 entities have been listed under EU restrictive measures (sanctions) in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine[1].
All assets within EU jurisdiction belonging to, owned, held or controlled by these listed individuals and entities are subject to immediate freeze. The obligation to freeze assets applies to all EU operators, including financial institutions and private companies.
The application of EU sanctions is the primary responsibility of Member States. In its role as guardian of the Treaties, the Commission monitors the proper enforcement of sanctions by Member States and follows up on possible breaches.
To ensure the efficient implementation of EU sanctions against listed Russian and Belarusian oligarchs, the Commission has set up the ‘Freeze and Seize’ Task Force composed of Commission services, Member State representatives, Eurojust and Europol.[2]
The Task Force was established with the aim to: i) ensure coordination of Member States’ activities in enforcing the sanctions; and ii) explore the interplay between sanctions and criminal law measures , e.g. whether frozen assets could be confiscated or designated individuals investigated.
In the context of the Task Force, the Commission is collecting data about the assets that have been frozen or confiscated across the EU[3].
Once enough data is collected, the Commission intends to inform the public about the overall assets frozen or confiscated. In addition, the Commission also recently set up a sanctions’ whistleblower tool[4], to help identify possible breaches of EU sanctions.
The reply is based on the information available on 20 April 2022.
- [1] In addition, 179 individuals and 27 entities were put under sanctions since 2020 in connection with the situation in Belarus.
- [2] Sanctions against Russian and Belarussian oligarchs (europa.eu)
- [3] While work is ongoing and Member States are still in the process of compiling and sharing information, so far more than half of Member States have reported measures taken to freeze assets to the Commission. This includes frozen assets worth EUR 29.5 billion, including assets such as boats, helicopters, real estate and artwork, worth almost EUR 6.7 billion. In addition, about EUR 196 billion of transactions have been blocked.
- [4] https://eusanctions.integrityline.com/frontpage