The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime
- Regulation in force
- 8 December 2020 4
- Measures
- Travel ban, asset freeze, ban on making funds or economic resources available 3
- Who decides listings
- The Council, by unanimity, on a proposal from a Member State or the High Representative 2
- Listed
- 141 individuals and 38 entities, per the Council page last reviewed on 24 July 2026 3
- Extended until
- 8 December 2026 3
- List review
- At regular intervals and at least every 12 months 1
Legal basis
The regime has two legal acts. Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 sets the travel ban, the asset freeze and the listing rules for Member States 2. Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 sets out the asset freeze, its exceptions and where it applies 1. Both are dated 7 December 2020 1,2. The regulation first entered into force on 8 December 2020 4.
As adopted, the Decision applied until 8 December 2023 and was to be kept under constant review 2. The Council page says the sanctions were last extended until 8 December 2026 3. It lists a 4 December 2025 item titled "Council extends sanctions against human rights violations" 3.
What abuses it covers
Article 2 of the regulation lists the acts the regime covers 1. Some are covered in all cases. Others are covered where they are widespread, systematic or otherwise of serious concern 1.
- Genocide and crimes against humanity 1
- Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 1
- Slavery 1
- Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings 1
- Enforced disappearance of persons and arbitrary arrests or detentions 1
- Where widespread, systematic or otherwise of serious concern: trafficking in human beings, sexual and gender-based violence, and violations of freedoms of peaceful assembly, association, opinion, expression and religion or belief 1
- The Council page adds abuses by migrant smugglers to the examples 3
The measures
Article 3 of the regulation freezes all funds and economic resources belonging to, owned, held or controlled by listed persons 1. It bans making funds or economic resources available to them or for their benefit, directly or indirectly 1. Listed persons can be those responsible for the covered acts, those who support or are otherwise involved in them, and those associated with either group 1.
The regulation defines freezing of funds as "preventing any move, transfer, alteration, use of, access to, or dealing with funds in any way" 1. Freezing of economic resources means preventing their use to obtain funds, goods or services, for example by selling, hiring or mortgaging them 1.
Article 2 of the Decision requires Member States to "prevent the entry into, or transit through, their territories of" listed persons 2. A Member State need not refuse entry to its own nationals 2. Exemptions may be granted for urgent humanitarian need, some intergovernmental meetings and judicial processes 2.
It is prohibited to take part, knowingly and intentionally, in activities whose object or effect is to get around the freeze 1. A person who freezes funds in good faith under the regulation is not liable for doing so, provided there was no negligence 1.
Exceptions to the freeze
Member State competent authorities may authorise release of frozen funds in set cases 1.
| Article | What may be authorised |
|---|---|
| Article 4 1 | Basic needs such as food, rent or mortgage, medicines, taxes and utilities, reasonable legal fees, routine holding charges, extraordinary expenses with two weeks' notice, and payments to diplomatic missions or international organisations 1 |
| Article 5 1 | Humanitarian purposes, such as delivering aid, medical supplies or food, or evacuations 1 |
| Article 6 1 | Payments to satisfy some judicial and arbitral decisions 1 |
| Article 7 1 | Payments due under contracts made before listing 1 |
| Article 8 1 | Banks may credit frozen accounts with incoming transfers, interest and some other payments, which stay frozen 1 |
How listing and review work
The Council, acting by unanimity on a proposal from a Member State or the High Representative, sets and amends the list 2. The Council must tell the listed person the decision and the grounds, directly or by notice, and give a chance to submit observations 1. If observations or substantial new evidence are submitted, the Council must review the decision 1. The list must be reviewed at least every 12 months 1.
The regulation applies in the Union, on aircraft and vessels under Member State jurisdiction, to Member State nationals anywhere, to entities set up under Member State law and to business done wholly or partly in the Union 1.
The Council page lists two 2026 actions under the regime. They are a 28 May 2026 item on sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers and a 13 July 2026 item on a new sanction over abuses against Ukrainian prisoners 3.
Common questions
Who decides who is listed under the EU human rights regime?
The Council of the EU, acting by unanimity on a proposal from a Member State or the High Representative 2.
How many people are on the EU global human rights sanctions list?
The Council page, last reviewed on 24 July 2026, says 141 individuals and 38 entities 3.
How long do the EU global human rights sanctions last?
The Council page says they were last extended until 8 December 2026 3. The list must be reviewed at least every 12 months 1.
Can a listed person challenge an EU listing?
A listed person may submit observations to the Council, which must review the decision if observations or substantial new evidence are submitted 1,2.
Does the regime apply outside the EU?
It applies to Member State nationals anywhere and to business done wholly or partly in the Union, as well as inside the Union 1.
Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.
Sources
- EUR-Lex: Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses (7 December 2020)
- EUR-Lex: Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses (7 December 2020)
- Council of the European Union: policy page on sanctions against human rights abuses (last reviewed 24 July 2026)
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2020/1998, document information page (accessed 20 October 2026)
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- Global Magnitsky sanctions explained
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