Europeans agree to better punish violations of sanctions against Russia

Symbolically, this is a powerful act. Even as the war in Ukraine continues to rage, on Monday, November 28, twenty-seven voted unanimously to make sanctions evasion a “Eurocrime,” that is, a crime serious enough for Europeans to harmonize their laws.

Thus, the violation of sanctions joins the list included in the Treaty of Lisbon, which has never been changed, despite some efforts. It now appears there alongside terrorism, human trafficking, drug or arms trafficking, sexual exploitation of women and children, money laundering, organized crime, computer crime and payment counterfeiting. Even Hungary, very jealous of its national sovereignty and close to the Kremlin, did not object.

Common legal framework

If only Russia and Belarus are interested – Iran and any other regime subject to European deterrence – these two countries are at least the first targets. Since February 24, twenty-seven have adopted eight packages of sanctions aimed at draining Russia’s economy and depriving Moscow of sources of war financing. They also target all individuals (1,239 to date, including President Vladimir Putin and his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov) or entities close to the Kremlin (116) believed to support the war effort.

Beyond the symbolism, this decision by the Europeans should allow them to punish those who violate the sanctions, as well as those who help them, but also to confiscate some of the yachts, villas and other bank accounts that these now criminal oligarchs have under Commonwealth law. on European soil. Although Ukraine is being destroyed more by the day under Moscow’s aggression, it may help fund its reconstruction when the time comes.

The Commission is due to present a proposal for a directive on Friday, December 2, to define precisely the legal framework that will equip the twenty-seven to punish this new Eurocrime. Today, within the European Union (EU), only twelve countries have already made it a criminal offense (Denmark, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Finland, Sweden). punishment. Two – Slovakia and Spain – are not going to fight it. As for the rest, their fines are relatively small.