Today, Maria Luís Albuquerque, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, in charge of sanctions implementation, chaired the ninth high‑level meeting on union restrictive measures.
Sanctions remain at the core of the EU’s response to Russia’s unprovoked military aggression. Following the adoption of twenty far‑reaching packages of sanctions on Russia, today’s meeting focused on ways to further enhance the cooperation among Member States, EU institutions and international partners, and on closing loopholes. High‑level representatives from Member States, alongside the Commission and the European External Action Service, came together to share best practices and success stories, and discuss challenges.
Following the meeting, Commissioner Albuquerque said:
“The adaptation of the 20th sanctions package is a clear signal of our unity and determination. We are increasing pressure on Russia at a critical moment, to bring it to the negotiating table and give peace a real chance”.
But sanctions are only as strong as their implementation. We will continue to monitor their consistent implementation by Member States and cooperate closely to facilitate information sharing and cooperative tools. We will not allow our sanctions to be deliberately circumvented via third country jurisdictions.
This is why the new package includes stronger anti‑circumvention measures, including the first use of our “anti‑circumvention” tool as well as further action in financial services (including crypto), energy, trade and disinformation.
Today’s discussions confirmed that enforcement is a shared responsibility. When properly implemented, EU sanctions deliver real results.
We also agreed on the need to deepen our engagement with international partners. Coordination, particularly within the G7 and with like‑minded countries, is essential to close gaps and respond to emerging risks.Today, we also had the opportunity to learn more about the EU’s Intelligence and Situation Centre (INTCEN) work in relation to sanctions. This is an important step in our journey towards deepening our cooperation.
The recent escalation of hostilities in the Middle East – including disruptions to global energy supplies – reminds us that geopolitical instability can create opportunities for circumvention. We must remain vigilant. Russia should not benefit from the war on Iran.
The EU will keep sanctions at the centre of its foreign and security policy, including as regards the continent’s strategic objective of achieving just and lasting peace in Ukraine. This is about more than sanctions. It is about the security and prosperity of Europe.
Related links
Sanctions adopted following Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine
Overview of sanctions and related resources
