Directive on the violation of Union restrictive measures

The EU has established over 40 regimes of sanctions against third countries, entities, and legal and natural persons. EU sanctions include arms embargoes, import and export bans, restrictions on banking services, freezing of funds and economic resources, and travel bans. While the adoption of EU sanctions is centralised at the EU level, responsibility for their implementation and enforcement lies with the Member States. The significant differences between national systems, particularly in terms of offences and penalties for violations of EU sanctions, are seen as weakening their efficacy and the EU's credibility. Following the Council's decision to add violations of EU sanctions to the areas of 'particularly serious crime with a cross-border dimension', in December 2022 the Commission issued a proposal for a directive to harmonise criminal offences and penalties for such violations. The co-legislators reached a political agreement on the directive on 12 December 2023. The Parliament adopted a legislative resolution on its position on the proposal at first reading on 12 March 2024, and the Council approved the directive on 12 April 2024. Directive (EU) 2024/1226 was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 24 April 2024 and entered into force on 19 May 2024. Second edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.