Since 2012, the European Council and Commission have published guidance, in various forms, in relation to the imposition and enforcement of EU economic sanctions. Regime specific guidance (including guidance on Russia sanctions) can be found below.
The platform for reporting past, ongoing or planned sanctions violations, or attempted violations, is available here: EU Sanctions Whistleblower Tool.
Key Resources
- EEAS ‘European Union sanctions‘
- List of National Competent Authorities
General Guidance by the European Commission, European Council & European Parliament
European Commission:
- European Commission Restrictive Measures (sanctions)
- European Commission ‘Frequently asked questions: restrictive measures (sanctions)‘
- European Commission and EEAS Guidance Note on due diligence for EU businesses to address the risk of forced labour in their operations and supply chains
- European Commission Guidance Note on supporting the implementation & recognition of firewalls (frameworks removing the control of designated persons).
European Council:
- European Council EU Best Practices for the effective implementation of restrictive measures (3 July 2024; EU Best Practices for the effective implementation of restrictive measures (27 June 2022).
- European Council Sanctions Guidelines
- European Council EU Restrictive Measures Factsheet
- European Council ‘Adoption and review procedure for EU sanctions‘
European Parliament:
- European Parliament Recommendation to the Council on a consistent policy towards regimes against which the EU applies restrictive measures
- European Parliament ‘Restrictive measures affecting the rights of individuals following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty‘
- European Parliament Report on the evaluation of EU sanctions as part of the EU’s actions and policies in the area of human rights
- European Parliament Briefing ‘EU sanctions: A key foreign and security policy instrument
General European Commission Opinions
General European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) Opinions
- Joint Opinion on the notifications for Prior Checking received from the Data Protection Officer of the Council of the European Union regarding the processing of personal data for restrictive measures with regard to the freezing of assets (May 2014)
Sector Specific Guidance
- European Commission Guidance Note on the provision of humanitarian aid to countries and areas subject to EU sanctions (Syria, Iran, Venezuela, Nicaragua, terrorism sanctions)
- European Commission Guidance Note on the provision of humanitarian aid to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in certain environments subject to EU sanctions (clarification on Covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics, EU counter-terrorism sanctions, Iran, Nicaragua, Syria, Venezuela)
- European Commission Factsheet on member state procedures to grant humanitarian derogations from EU restrictive measures (sanctions)
- European Commission Guidance on internal compliance programmes for controls of research involving dual-use items under Regulation (EU) 2021/821
- European Commission Guidance (FAQs) on EU restrictions on exports of personal protective equipment outside of the EU
- European Commission Guidance on export of cyber-surveillance items under Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2021/821
- European Commission Factsheet on Incoterms (international commercial terms) “Ex Works” rule (EXW)
Regime Specific Guidance
Belarus
- European Commission Communication ‘Guidance to the Member States concerning foreign direct investment from Russia and Belarus in view of the military aggression against Ukraine and the restrictive measures laid down in recent Council Regulations on sanctions‘ (2022/C 151 I/01)
- European Parliament Briefing ‘Russia’s war on Ukraine: Sanctions targeting Belarus‘
Central African Republic
- European Commission Opinion on the release of frozen funds under Council Regulation (EU) No 224/2014
Republic of Guinea
Human Rights
- European Commission Guidance Note on the implementation of certain provisions of Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 (Press Release)
- European Parliament Briefing ‘Global human rights sanctions – Mapping Magnitsky laws: the US, Canadian, UK and EU approach‘
Iran
- Q&A: Due Diligence on restrictive measures for EU businesses dealing with Iran
- European Commission EU Sanctions Tool – Iran
Libya
Myanmar
- EU Commission Guidance Note on the implementation of certain provisions of Council Regulation (EU) 401/2013 (Myanmar)
North Korea
- European Commission Guidance Note on the import and export ban on luxury goods under Council Regulation 2017/1509 (restrictive measures towards DPRK)
Russia
Commission FAQs on EU Russia sanctions:
- Consolidated FAQs
- Agricultural products: Agricultural products from Ukraine; Factsheet: Agrifood trade and EU sanctions; Agricultural products from Russia.
- Energy: Nord Stream infrastructure ban; Oil price cap; Import ban on liquified natural gas (LNG); Import ban on refined products obtained from Russian crude oil; Oil imports; Liquefied natural gas (LNG) transshipments; Oil reporting obligation; Gas imports; Energy financing.
- Finance and banking: Provision of payments services; Banknotes; Central securities depositories; Reporting on outgoing transfers; Russian Central Bank; Investment funds; Insurance and reinsurance; Sale of securities; Crypto assets; Specialised financial messaging services; Deposits; Credit rating; Trading; (Re)financing.
- Horizontal: Circumvention and due diligence; “Best efforts” obligation; General questions; Execution of contracts and claims.
- Individual financial measures: Asset freeze and prohibition to provide funds or economic resources.
- Sector specific questions: Targeted vessels; Tanker sales; Movements of Russian diplomats; Provision of services; Special economic zones; State-owned enterprises; Infrastructure transaction ban; Intellectual property rights; Chemicals; Media; Software; Public procurement; Access to EU ports; Aviation; Road transport; Humanitarian aid; Medicines and medical devices; Trust services.
- Trade and customs: Export-related restrictions for dual-use goods and advanced technologies; Restrictions on diamonds; Enhanced due diligence for operators manufacturing and/or trading with CHP items; Imports, purchase and transfer of listed goods; Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts; Divestment from Russia; “No re-export to Russia” clause; Transit of listed goods via Russia; Luxury goods; Customs related matters; Transport of goods in transit through the Union between the Kaliningrad Oblast and Russia; Technical assistance; Maritime safety; Financial assistance.
- Council of the EU: Timeline – EU sanctions against Russia
- European Commission ‘Questions and Answers on the 14th package of restrictive measures against Russia‘
- European Commission ‘Sanctions adopted following Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine‘, includes FAQs on various topics and sectors
- European Commission ‘EU Sanctions against Russia explained‘
- European Commission Communication ‘Guidance to the Member States concerning foreign direct investment from Russia and Belarus in view of the military aggression against Ukraine and the restrictive measures laid down in recent Council Regulations on sanctions‘ (2022/C 151 I/01)
- European Commission Notice to Operators on imports of Russian crude oil or petroleum products into the Union
- European Commission Opinion on Article 2 of Council Regulation (EU) 269/2014 on “control” and on services and labour as “economic resources” (19 June 2020).
- European Commission Opinion on Article 5(1) of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 (Russia sectoral sanctions) (17 October 2019)
- European Commission Opinion on the export ban established by Council Regulation (EU) 692/2014 (4 July 2019)
- European Commission Information Note to EU business on operating and/or investing in Crimea/Sevastopol
- European Commission Guidance Note on the implementation of certain provisions of Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 (25 August 2017). This guidance addresses the implementation of restrictive measures targeting sectoral cooperation and exchanges with the Russian Federation. In particular, it provides guidance on the application of certain provisions in Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, including guidance on areas such as financial assistance, financial services measures, loans and capital markets.
- European Commission Guidance for EU operators: Implementing enhanced due diligence to shield against Russia sanctions circumvention
- European Commission Sanctions Alert: High Risk of Circumvention – Import of Plywood
Parliament Briefings:
- European Parliament Briefing, ‘A new horizontal sanctions regime: Migrant smuggling, trafficking in human beings and other forms of organised crime’
- European Parliament Briefing ‘EU sanctions against Russia: alignment of the EU enlargement countries‘
- European Parliament Briefing ‘Russia’s war on Ukraine: New EU sanctions‘
- European Parliament Briefing ‘Western sanctions and Russia‘
- European Parliament Briefing ‘Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’: Bringing the threat to light‘
- European Parliament Briefing ‘EU sanctions against Russia 2025: State of play, perspectives and challenges‘
Other Guidance:
- European Lawyers Foundation (ELF) and the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) Guidance “Helping EU lawyers navigate the Russian sanctions’ package”
- G7 joint guidance for industry on preventing evasion of export controls & sanctions against Russia
- EBA Guidelines setting EU common standards on governance arrangements and policies, procedures and controls for financial institutions to comply with
Somalia
Syria
- European Commission FAQs on EU restrictive measures in Syria (November 2025)
- EU Syria FAQs (September 2017)