Sanctions against chemical weapons

Description of the sanctions

The sanctions consist of travel restrictions and freezing of individuals’ and entities’ assets. Likewise, no funds may be made available to individuals or entities who are on lists of individuals against whom sanctions are targeted.

The sanctions regime is horizontal. Sanctions can thus be imposed against individuals and entities who meet the criteria for inclusion on the list, regardless of their nationality or where they are located.

Travel restrictions

There is a ban on the entry into – and transit through – EU Member States for individuals and entities directly responsible for the development, proliferation and use of chemical weapons. The same restrictions apply to individuals and entities that provide financial, technical or material support for the development, proliferation and use of chemical weapons, and those who assist, encourage or have links to these individuals and entities.

Competent authorities in each Member State may, in exceptional cases, grant entry and transit, for example to fulfil certain obligations under international law, on the basis of urgent humanitarian grounds, or to enable participation in international meetings and conferences.

Freezing of assets and prohibition on making funds available

All assets that belong to, are managed by or are controlled by individuals and entities directly responsible for the development, proliferation or use of chemical weapons must be frozen. Assets of individuals who provide financial, technical or material support for the development, proliferation or use of chemical weapons, and for those who assist, encourage or have links to these individuals and entities must also be frozen. It is also prohibited to directly or indirectly make funds available to these individuals.

Competent authorities in each Member State may, in exceptional cases, grant the unfreezing of certain assets or decide to make funds available.

Relevant EU documents

The restrictive measures were imposed through Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1544 of 15 October 2018 and the EU Regulation (EU) 2018/1542 of the same date.

Please refer to the EU sanctions map and EUR-Lex for updated information about applicable legal instruments.

Competent Swedish authorities

The Government has appointed the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority and the National Board of Trade as the competent authorities for the examination of various issues related to the restrictive measures concerning chemical weapons.

The Swedish Social Insurance Agency grants exemptions from the freezing of assets, but not for routine administration (see the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority).

The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority receives information about frozen accounts and grants exemptions from the freezing of assets for routine administration.

The National Board of Trade approves permits for exemption from the freezing of assets of non-natural persons (legal persons, entities and bodies), but not for routine administration (see the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority).

Background to the sanctions

It was determined in the European Council conclusions of 22 March 2018 that the use of chemical weapons, including the use of any toxic chemicals as weapons under any circumstances, is completely unacceptable. In June of the same year, the Council adopted conclusions that urged the adoption of a new sanctions regime to combat the use and proliferation of chemical weapons. The purpose was to enhance the EU’s efforts to combat the threat of chemical weapons to international security. The Decision was taken in light of the Salisbury attack on 4 March 2018 and continued chemical weapons attacks in various parts of the world.

On 15 October 2018, as a direct result of the European Council conclusions, the Council of the European Union adopted restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons in line with UN Security Council resolutions 1540 (2004), 2118 (2013), 2209 (2015), 2235 (2015) and 2325 (2016).

The establishment of the sanctions regime forms a part of EU support for the treaties on – and systems for – disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control, promotion of an effective implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (CWC), and the work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).