Sanctions against serious violations of – and abuses against – human rights

Description of the sanctions

The sanctions are restrictive measures against individuals, entities and bodies – including state and non-state actors – responsible for, involved in or associated with serious violations – or abuses against – human rights.

This sanctions regime has no specific link to a particular country or region. Sanctions can thus be imposed against serious violations of – or abuses against – human rights, regardless of where in the world they have taken place.

Travel restrictions

Measures must be taken to ban the entry into – and transit through – EU Member States for individuals responsible for serious violations of – or abuses against – human rights. The same restrictions should be imposed against individuals who provide financial, technical or material support to or are otherwise involved in serious violations of – or abuses against – human rights. This includes planning, leading, ordering, assisting in, preparing, facilitating or promoting such acts. The restrictions also apply to those who are associated with these individuals.

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 funds and economic resources, and prohibition on making funds and economic resources available

All assets that are owned, held or controlled by individuals, entities or bodies that are responsible for serious violations of – or abuses against – human rights must be frozen. Assets of individuals, entities or bodies that provide financial, technical or material support to or are otherwise involved in serious violations of – or abuses against – human rights must also be frozen. This includes planning, leading, ordering, assisting in, preparing, facilitating or promoting such acts. The restrictions also apply to those who are associated with these individuals. 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 in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2020/1998.

Relevant EU documents

The restrictive measures were imposed through Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 of 7 December 2020 and Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 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 serious violations of – and abuses against – human rights.

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

On 9 December 2019, the Council of the European Union agreed to begin efforts to develop a global EU sanctions regime against serious violations of – and abuses against – human rights.

The development of such a sanctions regime is also set out in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2020–2024), adopted by the Council on 19 November 2020.

In light of this, the Council of the European Union adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 on 7 December 2020 and Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 of the same date, setting out a framework for targeted restrictive measures against violations of – and abuses against – human rights.