Brussels, 14 October 2024
The Council today prolonged the application of the EU restrictive measures (sanctions) against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons imposed on 25 persons and 3 entities for an additional year, until 16 October 2025.
Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU persons and entities are forbidden from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to them. In addition, a travel ban to the EU applies to the natural persons listed.
The sanctions regime aims to contribute to the EU’s efforts to counter the proliferation and use of chemical weapons, as well as to support the implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (CWC).
Background
On 22 March 2018, the European Council confirmed that the use of chemical weapons, including the use of any toxic chemicals as weapons under any circumstances, is completely unacceptable, must be systematically and rigorously condemned and constitutes a security threat to us all.
On 15 October 2018, the Council adopted the legal framework for restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons. This framework currently applies until 16 October 2026.
On 14 October 2024, the Council adopted the Decision to prolong the application of the restrictive measures to the listed persons and entities laid down in this legal framework for a further 12 months until 16 October 2025.
The EU follows developments in this domain closely and can decide to renew sanctions and amend the list of targeted persons and entities in case its objectives have not been met.
- Consolidated text ((17 July 2024): Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1544 of 15 October 2018 concerning restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons
- Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1344 of 26 June 2023 in support of enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
- How and when the EU adopts sanctions (background information)